Death Comes

Even to cute kittens. Smoky had her babies prematurely a few weeks back. Five were born on a Saturday evening-- one stillborn-- and another was born the following day. Weird, I know. Over the course of the next week and a half, they died one by one, due both to their prematurity and due to Smoky's frustrating lack of maternal attention. She would wander off for an hour, a kitten would grow too cold and weak to nurse, and so on. (As sad as this was, I must admit relief for not having to find homes for them all. Hardhearted!)

I walked into the sunroom one morning to see Millie, our cat-lover, cupping the last two in her hands.

She wanted me to take this picture because they formed a heart.