Hobbes
our huge old cat
startled my sister from sleep
jumping onto her chest
twenty years ago this July

My sister slept in our bed
as I stayed with Gordon
my husband of 14 years
in palliative care
as he ended his life with cancer
and I began my life without him

Hobbes, used to sleeping with Gordon
assaulted my unsuspecting sister
in the middle of the night
”Jesus Christ,” she later said
”that’s a mountain lion, not a cat.”

Gordon died later that week
Hobbes lived for 10 more years
dying when he was 23
from wounds sustained in a fight

He was shriveled by then
 mainly lying around
twitching with dreams
and pain
but still treasuring occasional 
backyard jaunts
until he took on that raccoon 
and lost

But, much like Gordon
he died without
ever
giving up on living.