Dear My Baby Bagel,

It's barely been a full day since you left. It was so sudden and so scary and you were gone before any of us knew what was happening. It must have been scary for you too. I'm so sorry it happened like this.

This afternoon we took you to the pet funeral home. Mom drove while I held you. You were already so stiff and so cold. We took you into a small room and said goodbye. We kissed you and pet you and told you everything little thing we loved about you. We'd wrapped you in two blankets that we'd gotten for you and your siblings when you were kittens. When it was time to leave, we left you with the fluffier one, and took the other to keep. Hugging it made me feel better while we signed the paperwork. Mom made sure that her favorite paw was the one that they'd stamp.

I spent the rest of the day looking at old pictures, and telling my friends all about how special you were; how you were, are, and always will be loved. It made me feel better and hurt so much at the same time.

Soon we'll go to pick you up again. You won't be cold or in pain anymore. We'll put up photos of you in your favorite spots, and pin your paw print next to the others we've lost. You won't ever be alone or forgotten.

Eventually it will start to hurt less, even if just a little. But no matter how long, I won't ever stop missing those little moments. Your loud purrs, your chatty meows, your little teeth nipping my toes, your little tongue lapping at bath water you probably shouldn't have been drinking, even your little grumbles as I picked you up to keep you from eating grass or hay. I wouldn't trade those little moments for anything in the whole world. I'm so thankful that you were my cat. I hope you know how much you'll be missed. Please, rest well now, Bagel.