>dear ginger,
>in a little over 12 hours we will put you to sleep. i am still struggling to grasp how quickly this all happened. a few weeks ago you were fine, then a large lump appeared on your chin. you started hiding more. you stopped meowing and hopping up when i would bend down to pet you. you don't even like chin scratches any more. when i saw you the other day my heart sank. you couldn't eat without meowing in pain. you're almost 15 now and you've been my cat for as long as i can remember. i'll never forget all my favorite moments with you, like cuddling with you when i played mario kart, listening to jazz together while i did my homework, feeding you ice cream, and making you wear that jester hat on halloween that we knew you hated but you looked so adorable. ginger, i knew you weren't immortal, but i never thought when the time came where i'd lose you that it would happen so quickly. i don't believe in an afterlife, but i hope i'm wrong. you deserve to play freely without suffering. it's easier letting you go knowing that it's probably better than the pain you're feeling now, but i'm crying as i write this because being away at college has given me less time to spend with you than i wanted. i'm going to see you tomorrow before we take you to the vet and try to come to terms with everything. i love you so much ginger. you were the best cat i could have ever asked for. i'll never forget you.