There is no easy way to write these words, and perhaps that is why it has taken two months to finally say them. It is with a heart full of sorrow and a lifetime of cherished memories that I have to share the news that my beloved cat, Sam, has passed away. He was eighteen years old, and he left this world peacefully and naturally, leaving behind a silence that is profound and deep.
Eighteen years. It’s a staggering length of time, a significant portion of a human life, and nearly an entire epoch for a cat. Sam came into my life as a tiny, curious kitten and grew into a wise and gentle old man. He was my constant companion through moves and milestones, through joys and sorrows, through the quiet, ordinary days that string together to form a life. He was more than a pet; he was a silent keeper of secrets, a furry shoulder to cry on, and a steadfast source of comfort.
He was, in every sense of the word, the best boy. He had a quiet wisdom about him, especially in his later years. He knew when a comforting purr was needed, when to curl up on a lap during a movie, and precisely when to meow for his morning meal. The house was orchestrated around his routines: the specific sunny spot on the carpet he claimed each afternoon, the way he’d greet me at the door with a gentle leg-rub, the soft thud as he’d jump onto the bed at night.
As he aged, our roles slowly reversed. I became his caretaker in a more profound way, ensuring his comfort as his steps became a little slower and his naps grew a little longer. To be able to care for him until the very end, to ensure his final days were filled with warmth, love, and dignity, was the last and most important gift I could give him. His passing was as peaceful as his nature—a gentle slipping away from a life lived to its absolute fullest.
The two months since he’s been gone have been an exercise in navigating grief. I still sometimes think I see him out of the corner of my eye. I instinctively go to fill his food bowl or find myself listening for the familiar sound of his purr. The space he occupied, both physically and emotionally, is a void that cannot be filled. But amidst the sadness, there is overwhelming gratitude. Gratitude for eighteen years of unwavering love, for the lessons he taught me about patience and simple joys, and for the honor of being his person. Rest in peace, my dear Sam. You were loved beyond measure, and you will be missed forever.