Elliott came to me in 2009 when I was nineteen, at the cost of exactly one cupcake. He was a tiny little thing. Upon bringing him home, he promptly went behind the couch and refused to come out except for food, water, and the litterbox. As much as he avoided me, I fell deeply in love. He stayed behind the couch for about a week, until I had come home from college after having a particularly bad day, sat on the couch and began to cry. It was then he peeked his head out, climbed up my leg, and curled up in my lap, purring away. From that moment, we became inseparable.
Elliott and I moved nine times together over the next sixteen years. We watched each other grow and went through everything together, good or bad. Every night was full of snuggles. He loved to stretch out over my chest and bury his head in my neck. He was my safety blanket. No matter where we lived, I could always count on him trotting to the door whenever I came home. As he grew older, he came down with some minor health issues. The worst of it was his experience with a seizure. I was told by the emergency vet that he was completely fine, and that sometimes elder animals can have this experience.
It was then I realized he was in his sunset years. But his age didn’t stop him. He still played as much as he could, although he preferred to sleep most of the day. When my husband left for six months to go through basic training and technical school for the United States Air Force, once again, despite his age, he stuck by my side during my many lonely nights, giving me his unconditional love.
A few weeks before our Permanent Change of Station to England, Elliott began showing distressing symptoms. He was taken to the hospital and I waited anxiously, hoping it was something as simple as a small infection. Something treatable. Heartbreakingly, it was not. Elliott had contracted cancer of the lymph nodes.
Our hearts shattered to pieces as we were informed there was nothing to be done.The next decision made was by far the most difficult, but we knew he was in pain, and the most love we could show would be to relieve him. However, only a day after he was diagnosed, he peacefully passed on December 28, 2023.
Through days of tears and greif, we had to begin healing. A pet is part of the family, however, and their passing is just as painful because they are a loved one. He had a sense of humor, intelligence, a sassy attitude, but most of all, he was full of pure, unconditional love. There was never any moment or situation where I questioned it, and that to me is one of the most beautiful parts of this world.
We’ve discussed getting a new furry friend in the future, but for now, we celebrate Elliott’s life and honor him the best we can every day. He was our little prince, our smelly-belly-ellie, and our perfect gentleman. Life became better with him in it, and is forever marked in grace because of him. He will live forever in our hearts and minds, in true love.
Stephanie Westbrook
