She was so small when I met her, just six weeks old and so fragile and delicate; I took one look at her and fell in love. She was a gift, the best I've ever received, and was presented to me with a purple bow around her neck, my favourite colour, and as she was placed gently into my hands I felt my heart open to her, a connection I knew would last forever.
I called her Bella Neve, beautiful snow in Italian, but she became known as Neve, Bella, Bel and Sleepy over the years. She was, without a doubt, one of the most important parts of my life.
I took this image of an image taken of me and Bella Neve
Over the years life has brought me many difficult and many amazingly wonderful times and so much in between those extremes as well; Bella Neve was with me to share them, console me, listen to me, keep me company when my partner was away working, snuggle into my lap and make me feel complete when part of me was missing and to make me laugh with happiness and pleasure - she was, in no uncertain terms, one of the best parts of my life and I couldn't imagine my life without her in it.
Twelve years later my heart broke when she was so very tragically and suddenly taken from us. I've known loss in my life, pets and people, but losing Bella Neve was something I was not prepared for and it shattered me, broke me into a million pieces that have never come back together and never will. I am brought to tears even now, some years later, when I think of the situation and how much I miss her.
The photo you see above was taken only moments after I was handed Bella Neve and I can't describe my feeling at that moment other than to say something rippled through my body and soul, a need to care for and love that little kitten, and from that moment she returned that love a thousand times over.
I'll never truly be apart from her, I take her everywhere I go in my heart and each morning and night I look at this photo beside my bed and feel grateful to have had Bella Neve in my life; I am forever changed because of her, and forever grateful for the amazing person who brought her to me...we both miss her more than could be imagined.
Becca 💗