Unknown Cat Mourned

Is that my cat at the side of the road?
So still chill cold laying there ... DAMN!
SLAM the brakes and fly to her side
still
quiet
gone
my heart breaks
shrill cry tears out the throat
chokes
not my dear friend
she came with me to this land so many years ago
shared so much
she is part of what was before we came here
I gather her to me, the cold still hard body,
stroke her fur,
tears streaming into it
I can barely see to drive the few hundred yards home.
Carefully she is laid on the sofa,
lovingly placed for the dogs to say their goodbyes.
Confused, they sniff all around her.
Confused, my husband looks at me, this isn't her.
It can't be.
I don't want it to be either.

Just as I didn't want our daughter to be dead so many years ago.
That couldn't have been true either.
No, not at all.

Hush dear.
I bless this dear cat and give her the love and tears from our life together.
then ...



miaow ...
miaow?



My beloved cat idly wanders into the house from the porch ...



Mirror mirror ... oh my. Oh dear. Not quite appreciative of the hugs.



And the cat from the road?
Dear cat, dear unknown cat, consider yourself well and truly mourned.