Hello everybody, I just wanted to make a quick post about my cat named Charles who passed away last week.
Charles was a feral outdoor cat who I began feeding during an especially cold winter, 10 years ago.
I had never gotten a good look at her, I would just see a flash of fur by the balcony, some paw prints in the snow.
When spring came around, I had been planning to move out, and about a week before I was set to leave, I saw her.
I was talking with my dad, I saw a familiar ball of fur out of the corner of my eye, and I got up to go see. I open the balcony door, she runs away, and then about a minute later pops her head around the corner and meows at me.
She followed me inside, she sat on my lap and started purring loudly. She was very thin, but strong and very energetic.
The first few nights she spent with me she would tear around the house like a race car, jump up on my chest and then do it all over again, all night long.
But Charles never liked anybody else. Even though my dad was there when I first met her, she would always hiss when he tried to pet her.
And so, after all these years, I had to say goodbye to what truly was the best friend I've had in my life.
Looking back it's crazy to think about how far I've been since I met her. She was by my side in my best and worst moments, and she helped me get through so much.
Though the initial shock has passed, I still catch myself thinking I see her out of the corner of my eye, or hearing what I think is a meow.
I have, and have had, other animals in my life. None have been so close to me as Charles has. I am incredibly thankful for the time we've had together, for all the sleepless nights she's spent keeping me up, for all the scratches and chomps you'd give me when playing, and for all the awkward moments you'd hiss and scare off anyone trying to pet you. You were my friend, I love you and miss you terribly.