Priscilla

Time is ever fleeting. It passes by faster every year, the precious seconds speeding by without us often taking notice. The moments of our lives are compiled of comings and goings, meetings and departures, helloes and goodbyes - the latter never easy and often filled with unending heartbreak.

Today started just like any other day, the morning full of hope and promise that prayers and good tidings would come to pass. Then the clock struck eleven A.M. I was in the middle of another daily conference call when my cellphone rang - it was my wife calling, and when she calls instead of texts, I know something terrible has transpired.

For the past week, our youngest kitten has been in the hospital. Not even one year old yet, she had developed acute renal failure - it turns out it happened to be a congenital disease. We had been working with the doctors steadily to get her over the hump so that we could bring her home and care for her, praying she could have more time. To our abject dismay, the doctors called and said she slid into a rapid decline and nothing more could be done for her. The news hit both of us like a ton of bricks. The feeling of our hearts being wrenched from our chests overwhelmed us.

The hospital is about ninety minutes from our home. Our journey there to pick up our little baby was filled with emotional silence, but what was there to say? We each just stared out at the highway uttering silent prayers for a last-minute miracle. It all had to be a mistake. Surely, a darling little kitten, so young and so full of life, could not be on her deathbed. I offered up everything I could think of as a deal to save her, but perhaps, it was all a little too late.

Priscilla came to us in July of 2022 as a belated birthday gift for my wife - she was one adorable little kitten. Sporting a pink ribboned collar, she instantly warmed our home. We smiled and laughed for hours, watching her dash around our sunroom, climbing on cat trees, playing with toys, and wrestling with her new brothers and sisters. Priscilla's sass made her queen almost from the get-go.

Little baby Cilla made herself at home, taking over furniture like cats are prone to do. Her position as a tiny queen permitted her to demand things her way. Her intoxicating purr made us smile even on the darkest days, and her little habit of suckling at blankets and chairs became a favorite of ours to stop and watch.

This little girl became a family member and one of our best friends. For some people, the thought of a pet becoming a friend may sound foreign or absurd, but something about them melts the heart once the bond is formed.

Every morning she would greet my wife when the alarm went off. Climbing up on the bed and pronouncing her presence with her purr will be forever remembered. For such a tiny kitten, Priscilla was a massive food hound. The simple rattle of the treat jar or opening of the wet food would send her scampering through the house and into the kitchen. She would look up at us with that adorable face and piercing blue eyes, excited to see what we had for her.

Since I get the luxury of working from home, I would often return to my office after breakfast to find her lounging in my office chair. I can still see her gazing up at me as if saying, "And what do you want?" - as I said, she took over the house.

The summer months turned to fall, and the holidays set in. Watching baby Cilla during Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas was extra special. During the Christmas season, she would attack the decorations around the house, reveling in all sorts of kitten mischief. But who could get mad at that face? She was the perfect kitten friend in every way.

Sadly, the winter months turned cold, and Priscilla's health started to decline. At first, things seemed manageable, but as the early days of spring settled in, our little baby became more stand-offish, less interested in her food, and, at times, generally lethargic. We took her to the vet for a check-up and bloodwork to see what might be wrong; we were not ready for what came next.

Priscilla's kidney values were awful, and she had developed a high-grade heart murmur. For the next week, we fought to save her and, at times, received hopeful news that she might be turning a corner, but today, things fell apart.

Faced with an impossible situation and a gut-wrenching decision, we brought her back to our local vet to euthanize her. Our ninety-minute journey back from the specialist hospital may have been the most challenging drive I have ever had to make. Our little girl had aged ten years in a week and looked utterly drained. She lay in my wife's lap on her favorite pillow chair, staring vacantly out the window at the cars that passed by. More than once, tears welled up in my eyes and crashed down my cheeks. My guts heaved and seized randomly the closer we drew to our home town for I knew the time to say goodbye drew closer and closer with each passing mile. Looking into her little face, I knew she didn't understand what was happening to her, and that was the part that was so difficult for me to take.

Both of us tried to keep strong for our baby during the drive. We petted and loved on her like there would be a tomorrow. My wife would tell her just to rest; everything would be ok even though we both knew otherwise.

When the ride was over, the world spun on its head. What had once seemed surreal suddenly became very real. I grasped Priscilla into my arms and held her close to my chest, never wanting to let her go, not wanting that moment to end - I can still feel her next to me.

As the finality of the situation came to bear, both my wife and I broke down. Partings are never easy, but final goodbyes scar you for life.

Time is ever fleeting. While Priscilla came into our lives like two ships passing in the night, her memory will be forever implanted in our minds. In our short time together, we learned never to take moments for granted, for you never know when the end is near. Death can come suddenly, like a thief in the night, stealing away all that is precious in your life.

We love you very much, baby girl! May your journey over the rainbow bridge lead you to a life full of treats and love. Till we meet again, my sweet angel, I want you to know that not a moment will go by that your mom and dad don't think about you and miss you.

Farewell, my precious Cilla; Daddy loves you!