This is JJ (short for Jack Jr).

Around July 2009, my father found a box underneath a desk in a soon to be demolished radio station. Within it were three small kittens. The first one we named was JJ, the only male kitten amongst the three.

JJ has been in my life since the near end of primary school, all of high school to the near end (hopefully) of University. He has been there when I have been writing for CYOC, writing Knowing Me, Knowing You and he has been there when the inspiration hit for Enedia. He loved everyone, or at least the comfort they brought wherever they sat. He was the only one I looked forward to seeing whenever I came home for Uni semester breaks because JJ was the only one who couldn't call or text. He was always a comforting presence to be around. He could lay for hours on my bed while I was resting, watching, writing or reading anything. Though he was problematic, always clawing the couch when he wanted to get out, only to come back a minute later to call and tap at the window. I was always the one who bought him inside, it was hard to ignore him, especially if he straight to lay down with you after you let him in. He had been through a lot, especially after losing his sister after our neighbours poisoned some of the pets around our neighbourhood. He would spent so many moments outside, mourning right next to the neighbours fence.

Unfortunately, JJ was unwell. An infection reached JJ during this year. He was constantly sick, making it hard to keep him inside just in case he fell ill onto the carpet. As time went on, his condition deteriorated. He had cuts on his muzzle and his eyes and we didn't know exactly where they came from. It became hard for him to see as the infection reached his eyes. Our vet didn't know what was wrong from the blood tests, saying nothing was there and to get high fibre food for him. But things got worse. He stopped eating a lot. Whenever you lifted him up, you could feel every bone in his spine. He was losing so much weight and the sickness continued. My parents weighed up the option to euthanize him, but I had stupid amounts of hope that JJ could make it through to another vet in early August, one that I could trust more.

He was placed in that same vet's care after he couldn't eat anything for a while, while his eyes were leaky. For a couple of days, things seemed to be on the up but only for a few days. The pain came back and a lot worse. I was still determined to see that wait for the vet through. Despite his cries of pain, I just wanted another vet to treat him better.

But it was too late.

On the 4th of August, while I was on a bus from the city to get back home after an intense therapy session, JJ suffered a stroke. He had Jaundice, and related infections, and he kept going from long pauses of shortness of breath to stiffly shaking for a minute. A couple of times, my father honestly believed that he already died right there and then. When I arrived, JJ was wrapped in towels to keep him warm, but he was still occasionally shaking around. I couldn't handle it, I wasn't prepared. But the decision was made to let him rest.

At 5:09pm, on August 4th, my beloved cat JJ was no more.

I still don't know how to handle this news. I haven't let myself grieve about this. I was the last one who pet him as he was going away. It all still hurts but my mind won't let myself grieve. We buried him that evening. We have some clippings of his beautiful fur, and we buried him where he liked to hide and greet us when we were swimming in the pool. We lied Lavender on the towels he last rested in, as he loved to be around our Lavender bushes.

Now he'll finally see his sister again.

Rest in peace, JJ. We loved all 14 years we had with you.