For Zephyr

On Monday evening I let Zephyr out, and she never came back. I suppose I could hope for the best, but I know that the most likely scenario is that something awful happened to her. I am heartsick, and I'm writing this post to manage my grief.

Zephyr was such a good pet. We had her for 6 years. She could be pretty demanding, but she was also the friendliest cat I have ever known. I wanted her to be an inside cat because the outdoors is dangerous place, but she would not allow it. Our home has been a happier and quieter place since we started letting her outside.

 

Zephyr wasn't so keen on Beckett at first, but as he's gotten older she's liked him more and more. And the boy always loved the cat. Just a couple of days ago Zephyr was sitting on one of the chairs in the dining room, and Beckett was running around and around the dinning room table saying "eeee" every time he passed her. In fact, he always greeted Zephyr with an "eeee" (that really must be what she sounds like to him) and has been saying it to the picture on her lost poster since Tuesday.

 

Zephyr kept me company through all the years of dissertation writing. She greeted us with the double-meow. She went on walks with Nate. Sometimes we thought she was part-cat, part-dog, and part-baby, although lately the cat part was definitely winning.  

I am so grateful that I was so nice to her the last day I saw her. We took a nap together, and we hadn't done that in months and months. She sat with all of us in the family room that evening. 

I keep thinking that I should be seeing her little, white face at the window. The house feels too empty without her.

If a miracle occurs and we get Zephyr back, I will share my joy with you as well. For now, I will take all condolences over the internet. I am much to raw to talk about the poor cat. Zephyr will be missed.