Rescue work is never easy, and it teaches you quickly that life can be both fragile and resilient all at once. When I first held the tiny litter in my hands, I could feel how delicate they were—their little bodies hardly bigger than the palm of my hand, their cries faint but filled with determination. My heart ached knowing how much they had already endured in such a short time.
But sometimes, no matter how hard we fight, fate takes a different turn. One of the kittens grew weaker each day despite every effort—warmth, feedings every few hours, gentle encouragement, and constant prayers. I held on with all my heart, but her little body just couldn’t hold on any longer. The moment she slipped away, I felt an unbearable wave of sadness. It never gets easier losing one, no matter how many you’ve tried to save before. I whispered to her that she was loved, that she mattered, and that she would never be forgotten.
Yet in the middle of that grief, there is still a spark of hope. Her sibling is still here—still fighting with everything inside her. Though tiny and fragile, she shows a spirit that amazes me every single day. Each feeding, each small stretch of her paw, each faint but determined meow reminds me why I cannot give up. She is holding on, and I will hold on with her.
I like to think her sister is watching over her, giving her the strength to keep going. Every time I look at her, I see both loss and promise—the reminder of one precious life that slipped away too soon, and another that still has a chance to grow, love, and live.
One kitten is gone, but another is still fighting. And as long as she has breath, I will fight right alongside her.
