~JcZw

It happened that I was flipping through one of my many old issues of Readers' Digest a few days back, trying to escape (but failing miserably) the reality of having to study... talk about escapist... My mid years are gonna die... Not to mention my Chinese Test on thursday...

Back to the topic.. I read the saddest, most tragic, tear-jerking article that I've ever read in my life. From the issue of October 1995 (I hereby acknowledge that the following knowledge was taken from Page 3 to 5 of the above-mentioned issue, written by Judith S. Johnesse)

Titled "A Boy and His Cat", it was an article my sister had shown me in Primary School when our first cat Cucumber had just died (mentioned in an earlier posts perhaps a month or two back). At that time I couldn't appreciate the way the thing was written, but now I could, and every heart breaking phrase and sentence leapt out to assail my already depressed state of mind.

Written in the point of view of a vet, the article is about a young boy who brings his much-loved cat, named Tigress to the clinic for treatment. The author finds that the cat is suffering from a tumour, and gives the boy an option of putting the cat down, or letting it live, but fade away slowly at home. A heart-breaking decision indeed. If it was me, I wouldn't be able to make up my own mind even. Being a cat-lover, it only served to make the story all the more tragic.

He listened carefully and nodded gravely. He said he didn't think she was very comfortable anymore and he didn't want her to suffer. He was trying very hard. The pair of them broke my heart...

And so, he opted to put his pet to sleep... a pet that he probably shared so many memories with... sobz... Its not a decision that a young person should have to make alone.... Death is not a thing a young person should face either.... Its hard to imagine living with the thought that you contributed the decisive factor in deciding whether someone lived or died.

...the grief I felt welling inside for this boy who had had to become a man so quickly and so alone....

And so, the cat was euthanized quietly with her loyal owner at her side. Who says that cats are aloof and proud? They share their own special bond with their owner. My cats do.... one day they'll have to go the way of this cat too, but they will also be thoroughly unforgettable cos of this.

The animal looked quiet and at rest. The owner now bore all the suffering. This was the finest gift that you could give , I said, to assume another's pain so that a loved one might rest.

There.... what a story, and the way it is written really tugs are your heart (as well as all the arteries that lie around).

I guess thats just life huh.... death is an integral part of life anyway (I'm trying to phrase this without sounding suicidal ok!). Yup, after all, better things are in store for us when the time comes to leave the world as we know it, at least thats what I believe.