Last year has been a difficult one. Several of our family members got affected by illnesses and we lost some of them. …. Ironically, it was not the coronavirus. It was other diseases that conspired against us. … Our losses include my lovely cousin MiuMiu, who departed from us very unexpectedly.

I only met her about a year and a half ago, but grew up hearing stories about her. By the time we met, we were both set in our ways and our humans did not force us to socialize much.

But we would always say hello to each other with a meaningful gaze when I visited. She would usually look at me with her beautiful eyes and a curious expression through the balcony door or from the top of the shelves. And I would look at her nervously before, during and after diving into her food-plate to lick it shiny clean.

I now wish I cared less about my belly and tried harder to befriend her. … I will get that chance when I eventually join her, Atena and grandpa on the other side of the rainbow bridge.