My cat was my life partner

and now she is gone

Nine years ago, I extricated myself from an extremely dysfunctional relationship. After twenty years of marriage, it had become a habit I didn’t even know I needed to quit. Until I received the proverbial wake-up call that catapulted me into an entirely new chapter of existence.

My cat Milee was with me during that transition, if still a bit young and happy-go-lucky. She bore witness to my grieving process, each step unfolding in textbook manner. She was patient and understanding, a solid presence as I healed and forged a new path.

I confess at that point; I didn’t know her very well. She had been one of three beings in the house, until there were two. I naturally began to turn my attention to her and was surprised at what I discovered.

In temperament, we were mirrors for each other. Strong introverts, highly sensitive, attuned to the environment around us. A fierce independent streak, we both needed our space and weren’t shy about setting boundaries.

I recall multiple times when she snuck out of the house and went off on adventures into the forest filled with coyote, bobcats, and wild pigs, only to return at 4AM, dirty and happy as a clam. Worried as I had been, I had to laugh as she sat confidently on the back step, waiting to be invited back into cushy…