death if it was a cat

I never considered myself an animal person. My parents never let me have a pet but I always had a strange affection for my best friend Hana's cat but when I saw a black and white Japanese Bobtail I couldn’t help but take it home with me.

“ I’ll name you Diablo.” I always thought when I got older life would get better but now that I've started working it’s only gotten worse. I've been working overtime for months straight. I haven't been home in two days… I always wanted to be an animator but now I want nothing more than to quit.

I bought a cat bed and litter box because I planned on getting a cat just like Hana’s but I was too busy to get one. My parents always told me there are two types of people: those who cling to life and those who cling to death.

“ Thanatos or Eros huh?” Diablo nudged my leg from my apartment to the staircase and he started running up the stairs.” Wait up Diablo!” I chased him up the stairs. My apartment is on the third floor of the twelve floor building. I chased Diablo up the stairs all the way to the twelfth floor. I finally caught up when I reached the top of the staircase Diablo started clawing at the door. “ I guess it wouldn’t hurt to go outside right?” And so I opened the door and let Diablo explore the roof.

Diablo slowly walked over to the railing and hopped on top of it and then meowed. He continued to meow until I walked over to the railing. “ Cats have nine lives. I would love to end this one and go into the next one, you're so lucky Diablo.” I pry Diablo off the railing. “ This world’s really messed up. I wish I wasn’t here anymore… I hope you’ll take care of me Diablo!” I wipe a few tears and head back down to my apartment “ Here we are room 301, Make yourself at home I’ll make you some food!”

I never really cook. I usually grab convenience store food. Let's see what I have that cats can eat. Ah rice and eggs, I have both! “ Prepare for a rice and egg feast!” I learned to cook the absolute basics when I was in college. I thought I'd use it more but I almost never leave work long enough to cook…

I make Diablo rice and eggs but he refuses to eat it. I try to feed it to him but he refuses to eat it so I eat a bit to show him it’s safe but he still refuses to eat. “ I shouldn’t force you to eat, maybe we should see a vet tomorrow?” As soon as I mentioned the veterinarian he took a small bite of the food then a larger bite until it was all gone.” I was worried for a second. Well I’ll eat too then!” After I finish eating I lay out Diablo’s litter box and bed then I fall asleep.

In the morning I make coffee and cereal for breakfast then head out to work Diablo follows close behind me. I pick him up and we walk to the office building that brings me so much dread. Time ticks by as the days turn into weeks which then turn into months which eventually turn into a year. It’s been a year since I've taken Diablo. He never really does anything, he follows me everywhere looking mesmerized by something only he could see his eyes never looked focused on anything or even alive.

A month later my parents both died in a house fire then my friend Hana in a car accident three months later.After that I started smoking.“ I hate this, do I really have to keep going, why do I cling to this life…” Diablo started rapidly meowing and clawing at the door. I smoke a cigarette and shovel Diablo’s food into a bowl and look through the peephole. It felt like death was staring directly into my soul. I can't even explain what it is all I know is it’s absolutely horrifying as I backed away from the peephole Diablo only increased how fast he was clawing at the door Diablo Jumped up and tried to open the door. The door creaked open slightly and the figure was gone instead of a scary figure all I could see now was Diablo’s shadow.

Diablo looked back at me and that’s when I got the same feeling I got from the shadow except now I could hear Diablo meowing out to me. Again I chased him up the stairs until we were back at the rooftop like usual. He jumped on the railings except now when I picked him up to go back to the apartment I finally got it. “ Shall we jump?” Diablo turned into a ten foot tall shadow. “ I’d love to.”