After examining Boobalee,
my beloved pet, our lifetime vet
assured me that all was well.

Lee just needed to lose weight was his verdict.

I trusted his words,
remember feeling all the anxiety subside, as I gave a deep sigh.

He told me to let the cat drink
and shared some useful diet advise.

Next day around 10 am
my world came tumbling down.
Lee suddenly started belting out
unearthly piercing screams.

Panic stricken, I rang the vet;
he was doing his home visits
I said : " Hurry, he's at his limits".

The wails stopped abruptly;
I placed Lee, ever so gently,
on a soft chair near the radiator;
tears were streaming down my cheeks,
deep inside I knew those would be our last minutes.

Softly, my hand stroked his heaving body as I whispered in his ear : I'm here you're not alone.

There was a sudden quiver followed by one last exhale and then he was gone.

My companion of many adventures had passed on;
his plight was over.

I still recall how after, it was so painfully quiet.