Have You Ever Loved a Pet so Much it Made You Sick When You Lost Them? Because I Have.

​The kitten in the picture is Cupcake. That’s the name my son and I chose for her together.

​We found Cupcake on a rainy day. It was a cold night, and she was seeking shelter under a tree. We had just come out of a restaurant, running to the car to escape the pouring rain. But suddenly, I heard a faint meow coming from somewhere very close. I followed the sound, and there she was. A tiny, tiny kitten, completely soaked.

​She looked up at me with her little eyes, and all of a sudden… Achoo! She sneezed right in my face. It was the smallest, funniest little sneeze. I fell in love with her that very second. I knew I had to take her with me and care for her.

​A Hard Choice, but the Perfect Shelter

​The only problem was, I discovered my son has a severe allergy to cats. So, I had to take a very difficult decision and bring her to my neighbor. I asked if she would be willing to care for her, and she immediately replied, "Of course!" I was so happy because I knew I had found a safe and loving home for her.

​Every day, I would go to visit her. She learned to recognize me, to know when I was coming. I would bring her her absolute favorite treats, sit beside her as she ate, and just talk to her.

​More Than Just a Pet: She Was My Friend

​I talked to her just as if she were a human being. I shared my sorrows, my sicknesses, my deepest pain. You see, after I lost my second child, I found I just didn’t want to talk to people anymore. They honestly just don’t understand.

​But I found in Cupcake a sanctuary, a true friend. She really listened to me. She agreed with everything I said, replying with her sweet, gentle meows. Cupcake grew up, becoming a beautiful, healthy young cat. We really did cherish her.

​A Day My Heart Sere

​One day, I just woke up feeling a strange tightness in my heart. I didn’t understand why. So, I thought to myself, "Go, Norel, go visit your friend. It will make your heart feel better, and she will be so happy to see you."

​My neighbor opened the door for me, but her face was filled with sorrow. She was crying.

​"I’m so, so sorry," she said through her tears. "Cupcake was in a car accident and she passed away."

​The news hit me like a physical blow. A thousand thoughts raced through my mind: "How could this have happened? No, it’s impossible. She is my friend. She is the soul I go to to talk..." It was an overwhelming flood of emotions, mixed with the heartbreaking tears of realizing I had lost her, too. My heart had truly belonged to her.

​We said our goodbyes. But the memory of her remains etched deeply in my heart. I will love you always, my little one.