A Goodbye to Our Beloved Anise
Today my heart is heavy. π
When I came home from work at the hospital, Suheel met me at the door. I could see something was wrong. At first, I thought it was his health — he’s been through so much recently. But then he quietly said the words I’ll never forget:
“Anise is gone.”
Thirteen years ago, a tiny black kitten darted between cars on a busy highway, searching for safety, until she spotted an open car door… and leapt inside. That’s how she came into our lives.
Her fur was soft and silky, pure black like licorice — so I named her Anise. Her green eyes sparkled with life, her tail was long and elegant, and though she was small, she was filled with spirit. Even our vet remarked the first time he met her: “Oh my… what a beautiful cat.”
She created rituals that became part of our days. Every evening, we’d hear her little pitter-patter as she ran to greet us at the door. At night, she curled herself between Suheel’s legs as he watched TV. When I stretched on the floor, she always climbed onto my chest, insisting we rest together for a few quiet minutes. And nearly always, she was right at our feet — close by, with the occasional trip to remind us she was there.
Anise also had a mischievous streak. She loved to steal food from Suheel’s plate when he wasn’t looking — it could be the bun of his smokey, linguini pasta dripping in sauce, or even a pork chop. But the day before she passed, she outdid herself: she stole an entire chicken breast covered in Alfredo sauce and ran off with it — half her size! From that moment, it was “operation catch Anise,” as she dashed away, determined to enjoy her prize.
Anise never quite learned how to retract her claws, and though she sometimes left scratches on our clothes and skin, we never got angry — she simply didn’t know. She was pure innocence, love, and loyalty.
Last year, thyroid disease began to steal her strength. We did what we could, but time was not on our side. In her final days, she stayed unusually close — sleeping by my head all night, moving but never leaving my side. When the end came, Suheel gently closed her eyes, wrapped her in a green towel, and laid her with such tenderness, her perfect little profile visible one last time.
On Monday, I’ll take her to the vet for the last time. For now, she rests in a soft beige blanket, safe and honored.
Anise wasn’t “just a cat.” She was family. She was a rare soul who left pawprints not just on our clothes, but forever on our hearts. πΏπ
Thank you for choosing us, sweet girl… I’ll carry your pitter-patter in my heart forever. πΎ
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