Serena was my soul mate and I don’t know who was more lucky; me finding her or her finding me. She helped me find myself again after being abandoned by most of my family. She loved me unconditionally, and she helped me focus on my future and get through graduating college, getting me through my first job, and getting to my current role with a large technology start-up. She loved watching old episodes of Sailor Moon with me nearly every night, enjoyed falling asleep on me/in my armpit/or between my legs. Never was there a night she didn’t sleep with me in our nearly 11 orbits around the sun together. She liked pushing her way into the bathroom and enjoyed watching me take a bath on the occasion even though it was clearly a boundary issue. Her and I would dance along to songs by Cascada and Kesha, and play video games together including Zelda, Pokemon, and Final Fantasy!

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Once I started my career and stopped bartending my way through college, she started to feel alone so I rescued her a little sister named Raine when she was 9, and while it certainly entertained her, she was ever so adamant that she preferred to be the only cat. My favorite memory of Serena was the first time my best friend placed her in my arms after we rescued her and her siblings. But the other best memory I have with her was literally every night I would fall asleep with her in my arms - and always knowing that the following morning I would wake up with her in my arms starting our days together. It always brought a joy to my heart that every time I pulled up to my home and I’d see her in the window looking outside, that by the time I parked and got to the front door she’d be running down the front staircase to greet me with the loudest ‘meow’ and consistent purring.

-Nik, Her Dad