I am a cat, once full of curiosity, chasing after rays of sunlight that dappled across the floor and leaping into the soft shadows that danced around me. My days were filled with joy, with the world unfolding before me in vibrant colors and new smells to discover. I could see the faces of my humans, and their gentle hands would stroke my fur, comforting me after a long day of playful adventures. I loved those moments, those small, simple acts of kindness that made me feel safe and loved.
But now, everything has changed.
My world is dark, and it feels as though I am walking through a never-ending night. My eyes, once so sharp and full of life, can no longer see the faces of those who cared for me, nor the toys I used to bat around in delight. I cannot see the soft sunlight that once warmed my fur, or the playful movements of the birds outside the window. Everything around me is shrouded in an unrelenting blackness, a veil I cannot lift, no matter how hard I try.
The pain I feel is not just from the darkness. It’s the aching, throbbing pain that pulses through me, deep within. It’s a pain I cannot escape, a pain that makes every movement feel like a struggle, every breath an effort. It started slowly at first—an occasional discomfort in my eyes, a dull ache that I would ignore as best as I could. But now, it is constant. It is sharp. It is all-consuming.
I try to walk, to explore, as I once did, but my steps are unsteady. I bump into walls, knock over objects I can’t see, and sometimes I fall, my body crashing to the ground with a painful thud. The world around me feels so distant now, like I am walking through a fog that won’t lift. I reach out with my paws, hoping to find something familiar, something to hold onto. But all I feel is emptiness, an absence of the comfort I once knew.
I hear the voices of my humans, but they sound so far away. I can no longer see the warmth in their eyes or the gentle smile they would offer when they saw me. I can no longer jump onto their laps for affection, nor can I follow them around the house as I used to, eager for attention. I can only sit, in the dark silence, and wait for them to find me. And when they do, they speak softly to me, their hands brushing over my fur, but I can feel the worry in their touch. They know something is wrong, and I can sense their fear. It makes my heart ache even more.
They try to help me, of course. They take me to the vet, and I hear words I don’t fully understand—”blind,” “degeneration,” “pain management.” But none of it changes the fact that I can no longer see the world. I can no longer chase the light or play in the sun. I cannot see their faces, and that hurts more than anything. I don’t know if they will still love me the same way, now that I am no longer the playful, curious cat I once was.
I can’t help but wonder if they will grow tired of me. I can’t help but worry that they will look at me, the broken cat who can’t see, and decide I’m no longer worth the effort. That thought fills me with a deep sorrow, a fear that gnaws at me when I’m alone. I want to show them that I still have love to give, even if I can no longer see them, even if I can no longer run and jump like I used to. But it’s hard. It’s hard to show love when you can’t even see the ones you’re trying to love.
But I try, because I know that love isn’t about what you can see. It’s in the gentle strokes of their hands, the soft whispers of their voices, the warmth of their presence. And despite the pain that is always there, despite the darkness that clouds my world, I still feel it—love. It’s a feeling that transcends sight, that doesn’t depend on what my eyes can or cannot see.
I may not be able to chase the sunlight anymore or watch the birds outside, but I can still feel the warmth of my humans’ love. And that is enough to carry me through the darkness. Even in this pain, even in this sorrow, I know that as long as I am with them, I am not truly alone. My world may be dark, but my heart is full of light, because I still have love.
So, I curl up in my favorite spot, my body aching but my heart hopeful. I close my eyes, and though the world may be silent and still, I know that love is still there, waiting for me in the darkness, just as it always has been. And that is enough to give me peace.
