Dear Ruby,
For nearly twelve years, you have been by my side. I can’t remember a moment in life when I have not had you there with me. Especially the last few years, I have somehow grown to love you even more. I come home from school, and you are loafing on my bed, ready to greet me after a long day. I go to sleep, and you are right by my pillow as I drift off. You are still there when I wake up.
Your meows at 6 a.m. are my alarm clock to get up for school. I complain when you annoyingly scratch at my door to get in, but I always open it for you anyway. Whenever I get home from vacation, no matter what time it is, you are always meowing at the top of the stairs, waiting for me to pick you up and cuddle.
Lately, I have appreciated you more than you know. You are starting to get old, and it scares me that one day you won’t be here. One day, you won’t be in my bed when I get home from school. You won’t be meowing to get into my room every night. You won’t be begging me to turn on my sink faucet so you can drink water. The day I lose the ability to cuddle and love you is a day I don’t want to ever come. I wish you could live forever. I hate that you are only a chapter in my story, but I am your whole book.
I love that I can clearly tell I am your favorite in the house, and everyone else knows it too. You are always in my room, you follow me like a dog, and you are always by my side. I always say I am more of a dog person because I have two dogs, but I think I’m lying to myself. Ruby, you made me a cat person. I always tell people I am a dog person because they seem to judge someone if they say they aren’t. Deep down, I know that, after you, I won’t be a cat person anymore, but thank you for giving me the opportunity to be one.
Thank you for making me feel more loved than the actual people in my life sometimes make me feel. When I have a bad day, in some magical way, you know. As I type this, you are sitting beside me. I like to think you can understand me—not only my words but my emotions too. I wish I could understand you as well as you understand me. The time I have left with you, I will spend wisely. People always tell me I have plenty of time left with you, but look how fast these twelve years have passed by. It feels like yesterday you were a kitten, but now you struggle to jump up onto my bathroom counter. I want to forever be able to pet you and be with you, but I know that I won’t. So once you’re gone, I will tell everyone about you, and I won’t let you be forgotten. I love you, Ruby, and, for you, I don’t have to put that love into words; I can put it into my actions.
Sincerely,
Zoe
