The little kitten that helped me move on

by Nutmeg
(Alaska)

I was either 18 or 19 when this happened. I had just had to put down my little tortoiseshell kitten named "Princess". She had a chronic upper respiratory infection and it wouldn't go away. I had to make the heartbreaking decision to both end her suffering, and her young life. That decision tore me apart; I had gotten her as a newborn on the brink of death and I somehow managed to nurse her back to health before the respiratory infection. I remember locking myself up right after I got home and bawled my eyes out. Then my roommate came home and told me a little story. This story was about another tortoiseshell kitten. She was born under a home and was abandoned. She had to fend for herself at a young age. She was barely old enough to be away from her mother. My roommate handed me this little ball of loudly meowing fur. She was so scared that she wouldn't stop yowling and shivering. I took this little kitten, and immediately fell in love with her and the purr I instantly heard out of her. Over the next few days, I fell ill: the flu. She never left my side unless it was to eat and go to the litter box. After I had become well again and got back to my normal household chores, she was always at my heel. If I was in the kitchen, she was there. If I was in the living room, she was there. If I was in the bathroom, she was right outside the door, waiting for me. Only a few weeks later did I realize she most likely saved me from the pain and guilt I felt for not being able to save my little Princess. I have a large spot in my heart for any suffering animal so it did hurt and it hurt a lot. That was 10 years ago. Now, every time I see her pretty little painted face, and I hear her meow or purr, I am ever so grateful for the hard time she helped me through and I can sleep well knowing she is ever grateful for saving her life and giving her a loving home.