I knew you were mine when I picked you up and you snuggled against my neck while your sister ran around the play pen. You stayed with me for multiple moves, school, and jobs, lived with a veritable menagerie of fellow animals, and through it all you would still snuggle with me like you did that first time. You always had words to say about everything, and I wish I could have taught you more tricks, you were always so quick to catch on. As you got older, you enjoyed surprising me with a new health issue every year, yet you never complained about having to take ever more medicine. Your body gave out before your will did. I hope you forgive me for letting you go before your worst days. You were my soul cat.