I can't believe I am writing this.
On Monday lunchtime Tom was going in and out a bit, went to visit his friend Sally next door, then I got busy with work. When he wasn't home at dinner time I became very worried.
He was ( how can it be the past tense?) a confident and friendly cat, extremely bonded to me. He would rarely be out more than two or three hours and is not the sort who would take fright at something and hide away.
I know we all say a few hours is nothing, please don't despair. But I KNEW the world no longer had Tom in it. I also had a strange dream about this last week which almost matched what happened but don't want to give details as you will all think I am mad.
Sleepless night followed by more hours of calling and searching. Then a neighbour came to my door looking stricken. Tom had been found in some bushes. They brought him back to me wrapped in black plastic in a cardboard box. My beautiful darling boy. Hit by a speeding car driven by one of the morons who,use our quiet village lane as a cut through. I sat on the stairs and howled.
My precious cat - loyal friend and companion of 13 years. Neighbourhood character, friend to many but most of all, he absolutely adored me as I did him.
They took his body away to be cremated yesterday.
I feel unhinged and completely grief stricken.