I am fifteen years old, but a few months before I was born my parents adopted two kittens from a rescue centre not far from our home. Their names were Lily and Luke. Lily sadly passed away in 1998, but Luke stayed a while longer and I’m thankful for that.
Being around since before I was born I had always had Luke around. Before my sister was born I had Luke, as my friend who used to sit and sleep or just watch me. We both reached 15 years old and I was warned that it was old for a cat, but I had thought that Luke would ignore that.
Luke was the most gentle creature I have ever known, he was so loving and so friendly that people walking down our road would sometimes stop to stroke him, and he would just lie out in the sun or sleep in front of the heater. He ruled my world from the sofa in our front room and pushed his way into my room at night to sleep
at the end of my bed, or on my pillow.
Almost two years ago he was diagnosed with a kind of throat cancer, he had this huge growth in his throat that meant he struggled to eat and keep food down, he couldn’t miaow but he kept on purring. They didn’t give him very long to live but he still went on another 14 months. He was too old to be operated on, he would have died under anesthetic.
But after school one Monday he was very ill and mum told me then that he was struggling so hard to breathe it would be kinder to put him to sleep. Knowing I had hours left with him i tried to memorize the feel of his fur and just anything and everything I could. By 6:45 in the evening he was gone, he purred through his final moments and didn’t fight, he didn’t have to fight it anymore.
Knowing Luke all my life and loosing him now hurts me, he was like the brother I didn’t have, and was the most laid-back, lovable cat I’ve ever known. I never met someone who didn’t love him, or like him. I heard somewhere that ‘Grief is the price we pay for love’ and if it’s the price I have to pay for all the love and comfort he gave me, then I’ll gladly pay it.
Look after Lily now, and one day
I hope we can see each other again.
Sending love to you both,
from all your family and friends,
| Luke |
| Helen Crumpholt |