It appears that animals know who to adopt.Benny adopted my family last year between July-August.At that point I didn’t really know him. I was living in another city waiting to move from my dorms to a flat with roommates. Benny was persistent. He insisted that my mom and my sister would be the ones to take care of him. He was afraid of his own shadow an was searching for a lot of love. he got it. When it was obvious that I was moving it was decided that I take him as a foster parent. I wasn’t sure of it but how could I say no to a pair of big yellow eyes followed by a huge body? he was beautiful.
Not long after we found ourselves living together. We hated each other. It was like living with a flatmate you don’t like. I was frustrated but decided to be the “adult”. I made it clear to him that he was stuck with me. It took a while but it worked. Benny, like a child who has never seen love before realized that I was there for him. That i was there to help him, nurture him and that even though I didn’t like him (he had a serious attitude)I was not going to abandon him. I became his mother.
Benny showed amazing skills. He knew how to open doors and he spoke with me. One day I couldn’t find him and I called his name with fear. He came running to me responding to my voice and even answering, as if saying “don’t worry mom”. It was then that I felt proud. It was then when I realized I loved him. He turned into my baby. Benny was intelligent. He spoke; he answered; he was funny and did things I’ve never seen a cat do. He was not a cat he was simply Benny. A unique creature that for some reason took the form of a cat.
But this uniqueness took its price. Benny was sick. He had a problem in his brain that changed him. Once in a while he changed as if he couldn’t control it. That was when I realized that my baby would not be with me for long. Not many will understand this, unfortunately. But he was not my companion, he was my baby. He eagerly waited for me to come home; he slept with me on my bed on my pillow and when he had nightmares he felt reassured when he saw me. His mother. It is difficult to lose a child no matter how many legs it has. I will never forget him. He knew I loved him and he knew that because I was the last thing he saw falling asleep. He felt my hands, my tears and my love and they will always be his. Part of my heart is now gone. He took it with him. I gave him one year of love and care and I do hope that he was happy with me.
My love, I hope that there is a world after, and I hope that you are running around free and happy and that no one is hurting you. No one will ever be afraid of you and you will always be remembered as my baby. Your name shall always be Benny Barlev.
Rest in Peace my sweet baby….
With all my love forever,
| Benny Barlev |
| Merav Barlev |