Tissue the Cat, a white tabby cat, finds himself in a vast cloud-filled space. As Tissue walked, he could feel the clouds. They felt like cotton and snow. He sees a giant figure guarding the gates of heaven. He seemed pretty sad, longing for someone to meet.
"My, oh my! How did you end up here?" the Heaven Guard asked, his face lighting up with curiosity.
Tissue meowed softly, a sound filled with confusion. The Heaven Guard's eyes softened with understanding.
"The gates of Heaven are temporarily closed and it will be fixed in a moment. In the meantime, I can show you other cats and their owners' stories to pass the time. What do you say?"
Tissue nodded in agreement with a soft meow. The Heaven Guard opened a book, and in a blink, Tissue was pulled into its pages.
Tissue enters a royal house, where a Persian cat named Cleo was being pampered like a child. The house was modern with so many amenities for the cat. The Heaven Guard said as he walked with Tissue. "This is Cleo, She lived her life like a goddess. Unfortunately, she died of old age."
Tissue looked around, he saw a giant playroom, stacked food stocks, and what not. Then he saw the owner surrounded by pictures of Cleo, crying. Tissue felt jealous as he saw the luxurious life Cleo had enjoyed.
"There's no need to feel jealous," the Heaven Guard said as he sensed Tissue's emotions. "Remember, your own journey was special. Your owner adored you and gave you a life full of love and care. You had a unique bond that cannot be compared. Every story is different and precious in its own way. Let's move on to the next house and see another story."
Tissue was then drawn into another scene, arriving at a simple house where Milo, a stray cat, ruled.
The Heaven Guard continued, "This is Milo, the stray cat. He got into fights with other cats to protect his territory. He was the king of his turf. But one should leave their throne when the time comes."
Tissue saw that Milo had so many scars, and his fur was worn out. Yet, Milo stood up bravely. Tissue watched Milo in admiration as Milo defended his territory bravely. He thought about his own strength and wished he could have been as powerful to provide for himself and his owner.
"You are strong," the Heaven Guard reassured. "We just don't know our potential. Have you forgotten how you helped your owner? You supported him through difficult times, and I am proud of you."
Feeling a sense of reassurance, Tissue understands the impact he had on his owner.
Tissue was taken to a dull home where a nameless cat went through abuse from his owner. "This poor cat," the Heaven Guard said. "What did he do to suffer like this? The owner would abuse him often for no reason, yet the cat stayed. He could have escaped and lived a better life. He stayed for that little girl. She did her best to protect him, but it was never enough. Despite the abuse, her kindness was his comfort, and he couldn't leave her alone in that house."
Tissue saw the little girl crying in the backyard where she buried the nameless cat. Tissue shed tears for the nameless cat, the Heaven Guard noticed and said, "You have a kind heart; you shed tears for a cat you don't know. Most wouldn't do that. Don't worry, he is in a better place. Moving on, this is the last one. The gate is almost ready."
Tissue finds himself on an empty street filled with garbage, where helpless kittens were left to starve. The Heaven Guard said with frustration, "Look at these poor kitties. They were separated from their mother, and only God knows why. They starved to death. This is where I question God's work. If He created them, then why did this happen?"
Tissue felt a deep sadness as he listened. The Heaven Guard continued, "Do you know how you met your owner? You were alone, meowing for food at every house. Most of them shooed you away; some greeted you in and gave you food. But you chose him; it took you time to gain his trust. But you did the right thing."
Tissue recalled the moments he spent with his owner, "We used to play in the evening while the other cats fought for their place, and we watched the stars at night. He would lie down and gaze at the stars and talk about his problems; although I didn't understand what he said, I'm sure it made him feel better. Sometimes I would get into fights with other cats and get badly injured. He took me to the doctor without a second thought. It's night now, and the stars are blazing. I wish I could watch the stars with him. He never knew that I loved watching the stars with him."
The Heaven Guard went silent and allowed Tissue some time to process his emotions.
The moment arrived for Tissue to move on. The Heaven Guard spoke gently, "I still have more things to share, but it's time; the gates are ready."
Tissue looked back at his owner one last time, his heart full of both sadness and peace. "Goodbye, Kitty!" the Heaven Guard said warmly. "The gates of heaven are waiting for you."
Tissue stepped through the gates, his spirit finally at rest.
The End.
Owner's note:
When Tissue entered my house, I pretended that I didn't love him, knowing that he wouldn't be with me forever. But I couldn't stop loving him. My neighbours hated him for merely existing. Every morning, he would wait at the door, meowing to be let in. His meows sounded as if he were in danger. Right when I opened the door, his voice would change to a kitten's. We would go for walks on the terrace once in a while. There were other cats around the apartment, but he didn't get along with them and ended up in some serious fights.
Everything went fine until he stopped visiting my house. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and it's been a year since he went missing. I couldn't cry for him; sometimes I doubt the love I had for him. Part of me tells me he's gone and I should move on, while another part insists he's still out there, hunting. If he is gone, I should at least thank him for not making me watch him die, that's the worst part of owning a pet.
I hope he's doing well.
