The Joy of Adopting an Old Friend

As we gazed into the face of our newly adopted cat, it hit us - she looked uncannily like Stacy, a dear friend who had been waiting for what felt like an eternity to welcome her own little bundle of joy. 'It's crazy,' she said with a smile, 'but I think she's beginning to look like me.' We all laughed, and for a moment, the infant's blank expression seemed almost...human.

For Stacy, it was a bittersweet reminder that time was passing. As we chatted over drinks, she had confided in us about her struggles with adoption, recounting horror stories from friends who had endured similar journeys. It was hard to believe that just months prior, we were discussing our next cat - yes, cat - in the most hypothetical of ways.

We decided to visit the shelter attached to the animal hospital where we had spent countless hours and a small fortune over the past decade. The woman helping us warned us about 'slim pickings' in the feline department, but we were determined to find a new companion.

Our old friend - the cat who had brought us so much joy and comfort for 15 years - was no longer with us. His decline had been gradual, marked by episodes of vomiting, wild shitting, and confusion, until we finally acknowledged that his time had come. He may have been failing, but he had held our marriage together in ways we never could have imagined.

As writers, we've shared our work in various publications, from Subtropics to The Florida Review, and published our first novels with Dzanc Books. But this latest experience has reminded us of the joy that can be found in adopting an old friend - not just a pet, but a symbol of love, companionship, and the beauty of life's unexpected twists and turns.

Old stacks of books leather tied