I lost one of my best friends yesterday—my dear Abegail. My friend Jessica Henderson and I adopted her on November 8, 1996, and I remember that day clearly. We were college sophomores, and the apartment we shared with two other friends was in desperate need of a feline roommate. We brought home that scared three-month-old orange tabby from the Lexington Humane Society, and I gained a beloved companion who would stay with me for fifteen years.
She was a feisty girl with a strong personality, and that’s what I loved about her the most. She was also very vocal; I’ll miss hearing all her different meows, guttural chirps, and growls. She even used to make a noise that sounded like a dog barking.
She was diagnosed with diabetes several years ago but continued to live a fairly active life. She eventually adjusted to my coming at her with a syringe twice a day. It will take me a while to adjust to her absence, as her care required twice-daily injections and I fed her five meals a day. Even while she was hospitalized, when it was shot time I had to remind myself that I didn’t need to worry about that.
Natalie doesn’t yet know that Abegail isn’t coming home; for now she knows that she’s been sick and at the doctor’s, but we will have to explain things to her in terms that she can understand—and very soon. We’re not looking forward to that at all, but Natalie is inquisitive and asks questions. She’s already been telling me that she misses Abegail. Sweetie, you don’t know the half of it.
I’ll keep my fond memories of Abegail Anne close, and although I miss her so terribly, I know she led a long, happy life. Goodbye, my sweet girl. You’ll always be in my heart.
