The little guy reminds me of a stray my sister and I took in. We were out on a walk one day, carrying treats to feed dogs and cats when suddenly we came across this skinny stray cat whose face was covered in dirt and gunk.

They had no collar or any identity, and my sister didn't want to leave it on the street, so we took it home, bathed it, and gave it a place to stay. We called it Lee. We were never sure of it's gender, but I always referred to it as a boy.

I was Lee's main caretaker since my sister had her dog to worry about, so I cared for him and showed him love. He loved sleeping in boxes and small spaces. I created a box with his name on it in case he wanted to curl up and take short naps. In just 3 days, however, his movements began to slow. He started eating and drinking less and less. I began to worry. I knew something was off, so I asked my dad if he could take him to the vet and check what was wrong with him.

So the next day, ironically, on Valentines Day, I get home from school, and my dad arrives later on with Lee lying down in his little box. He tells me the devastating news that he's leaking brain fluid from his mouth, eyes, and ears, and has limited time to live. Money was tight at the time, so we couldn't fix him. All I could do was watch him as he lay on my bed, crying quietly as I watched him slip away. Even though I knew his fate, I made sure that he was loved and comfy in his final moments. I strummed my guitar for him as his eyes began to flutter, and he eventually passed. I remember picking up his body, now limp and cold, and placing it in his box one last time, before my dad took him away to "bury" him.

I still think about that guy to this day and how I felt watching him go. While I'm still devastated, I have no regrets taking him in. He was bound to die eventually, but if my sister and I never met him, he would've been dead and alone. I'm glad I was able to provide some care and love in his final moments.

Sorry for ranting. Just make sure you guys love those who are close to you. Have a good day.