♥Bradley♥ by Jessica Vaughn / Jesse

Dearest Bradley,

I had to put you to sleep today. You were so tired, so old, so sick. You sat on the front porch just watching the cars go by like you were wondering how everyone moved so fast.

You were always such a good friend to me. When I was a lonely 13 year old, you let me read to you from Gone with the Wind and tell you my ideas. You knew more about me than any person ever did. You kept my secrets and licked my hand when I needed somebody to love me.

You saw me through the hardest years of high school, when everything was scary and new. I just wish you could have been around for my graduation. It’s so strange to think that I won’t come home to find you sleeping on the porch or in grandma’s flower pot, your favorite place you knew you weren’t supposed to be. We bought you two heated beds, but you still preferred that flower pot.

You were the king of this castle, Bradley. The king who peed on everything he wanted to pee on, who came to the screen door to yowl when he wanted attention, who ate just as much fish and chicken as the rest of the house. When grandma stopped to cook you lunch of fresh poultry, thats when we knew just how spoiled you were. But we loved every minute of it, my baby.

And today when I put you to rest, it was the single hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I cried the whole time, baby. Just cried and wondered how the world could have allowed you to get that sick. But you were so graceful, lovey. You just laid down and let them do what was needed. I petted you till the very last, and then you were gone. There’s a hole in my heart now, my kitty, and I don’t know what to do. There will never be another you, Bradley.

I will always, always love you baby. May you rest in the heavens.

 

You are in my heart,