As I reflect on our shared time, I am struck by the fact that Samson was present for nearly two decades of my unattached and childless life, serving as my only feline companion. He was my everything, my little one.

However, it's the joyous and peaceful moments that I will forever yearn for. Lazy Sundays spent engrossed in reading or simply watching television, with Samson nestled serenely beside me. The mornings when he would proudly fetch his treasured toy, perhaps to show his appreciation for being a wonderful cat mama. Witnessing his inner lion come alive as he pounced around, or observing him playfully engage with his toys until his final days, as if he were still a playful kitten.

On the day he crossed the bridge, the veterinarian uttered words that will forever echo in my heart. "He was lucky to have you," they said. It struck me, for I had always believed the reverse to be true. But that is the essence of love--a reciprocal exchange of adoration. We loved one another, undeniably. Despite any scientific theories that may exist, my time with Samson revealed a love in its purest form. The experience has transformed me into a better individual. While my heart may ache from the void he left behind, it remains open, thanks to the profound impact of our life together.