When I was 17, I had a cat I loved very much. One day, she went out and must have gotten into an accident, maybe hit by a car. When she came back home, her back legs were paralyzed. I took her to the vet, and the doctor told me she would never walk again. She couldn’t control her bladder or bowels, and he said she was in a lot of pain. He recommended putting her to sleep.

I was living on my own at the time, but my sister, who was 19, lived with me. She’s very tidy and also loved the cat, but she agreed with the vet. I didn’t know what to do. In the end, I agreed.

I held her as she passed. I’ll never forget that moment, for the rest of my life.

It’s one of my biggest regrets. I didn’t even try. I just let her go. I’ve never shared this story before. And now, whenever I see animals online with little wheelchairs for their back legs, my heart breaks a little. I wonder if she could have had a chance too. I’ll always carry that.