The pandemic was like a sudden storm that disrupted everyone’s lives. However, it unexpectedly gave me a precious and unforgettable period with Andimeo. During those days, I stayed at home with it all day long. Watching it lazily rolling in the sun and dashing around every corner of the room, I knew this was probably the happiest time in its life.
However, as the pandemic ended and I returned to work, I noticed changes in Andimeo every night when I got home. The once energetic cat became listless during the day. The cat food remained almost untouched, and the litter box showed few signs of use. Seeing it lying alone by the window, with loneliness in its eyes, my heart ached. I knew it felt lonely during those long hours of waiting. So, I decided to find a companion for it, hoping to bring back its joy.
After some searching, a new family member joined us – a lovely British Shorthair cat, whom I named Li Xiaobai. Li Xiaobai had big, round eyes and a soft, fluffy coat, looking extremely adorable. When Andimeo first met Li Xiaobai, it seemed to be injected with new vitality instantly. It shook off its previous dullness and actively approached Li Xiaobai. Before long, it started grooming Li Xiaobai, and their affectionate behavior filled me with relief. I chose Li Xiaobai not only because of its cute appearance but also thinking that its long fur could bring more warmth to Andimeo in winter.
But fate can be cruel, and good times are often short – lived. On the tenth day after Li Xiaobai arrived, something unexpected happened. When I came home from work, I saw several piles of vomit on the floor, and Li Xiaobai looked extremely weak. I immediately realized the seriousness of the situation and rushed it to the hospital. However, the test result was like a bolt from the blue – feline panleukopenia. Despite the doctor’s best efforts, with intravenous drips and injections, Li Xiaobai still couldn’t make it and left this world the next day. Everything happened so quickly that it was hard to accept.
What’s more heartbreaking is that Andimeo followed Li Xiaobai just a day later. In its last moments, I held its paw tightly, hoping it could feel my company and defeat the illness. At around 4 a.m., it left quietly, as if falling into a deep sleep, but without its familiar purring and breathing. I stroked its cold and stiff body, and tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. I was filled with self – blame and regret, blaming myself for not taking good care of them.
During the three or four months that Andimeo lived with me, it filled my life with countless joys and beautiful memories. It used to sleep next to me, resting its head on my arm, giving me warmth and a sense of security. It would play hide – and – seek and fetch with me, bringing me endless happiness with its innocence. It would eagerly welcome me at the door when I got home, driving away the fatigue of my day with its enthusiasm. And when I had nightmares at night, it would crawl onto me, giving me a sense of security with its presence. Now, all these have become memories that can never be repeated.
Andimeo and Li Xiaobai, though they only stayed in my life for a short time, the love and warmth they brought will remain in my heart forever. I believe they will meet again in heaven and continue to play happily. May they be happy forever in that world without pain.
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