by Jay Brennan

Created on: September 08, 2009   Last Updated: September 09, 2009

I've had many pets before but I didn't know my furry buddy until I was eighteen. When I was a young child I remember my pets with the fondest of heart. But I was lucky to have found a good friend in an alley cat.

I had just left the nest and was renting my first apartment. It was a night full of rain and lighting in northeastern Florida. I needed a few items from the grocery store that couldn't wait for the sunshine. As I approached the sliding doors I remember hearing a faint desperate cry. I looked down and saw the most precious little orange kitten I've ever seen. His eyes melted my heart when he looked at me. But I continued into the store. I simply did not want the responsibility of a pet while I'm starting out in the world. I exited the grocery store and headed back to my car. As I approached the trunk I heard the faint desperate cry again and saw that the kitten had followed me to my car. I knew that I shouldn't have taken him home but I couldn't resist.

His excitement when I let him into my apartment was obvious as he ran from one end of the living room to the other hopping obstacles along the way. It baffled me as I expected him to be afraid at first but it was like he knew he was home. He would easily be called Blink since a band by the same name was my favorite at the time. Blink fit his personality as he was a happy cat that socialized with my house guest. My friends bonded with Blink as quickly as I did.

Blink would use as much energy that his little body could when he was awake. The sweetest of quirky things that he would do is sleep at the head of my bed as I slept. He knew how to wake me up. Trust me it's pretty hard to ignore a cat licking your face.

I met a gorgeous girl and later we decided to move into beach house together. After living with my girlfriend for a year, I knew I wanted to marry her. When she was away on a cruise I purchased the perfect ring and asked her parents for their blessing. Blink was going to play a big part in the proposal. In the Ben Stiller movie Meet the Parents the main character put the engagement ring on the cat that was presented to his girlfriend. I was hoping that Blink could pull this off.

After lunch with my girlfriend's father in Georgia, I could tell Blink wasn't himself. After long trip, I needed to take a nap because I had to work that night. Blink as usual jumped into my bed and went to sleep with me. About an hour later, I woke up and noticed that he wasn't moving. I felt my heart ache and the worst kind of tears started to fall from my eyes making them burn for hours. I've heard it's silly to be that upset about a pet dying but when Blink left me I knew I would miss him forever.

Even after several years it still hurts that he is gone. I'll always remember the moments that made us good friends. And I will never forget the bond that I shared with a little orange kitten that I took home one rainy night.

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