Gonna share a personal experience with you real quick if that’s alright. I just want to share why this comic already means so much to me.
I had chronic neck pain for like two years until I forced myself to rest for 6 months. Got a LOT of crap for trying to remedy invisible pain instead of cleaning the house or doing what others wanted, even outside of it. At home, at work, and even around friends I don’t go to anymore. It got to the point where I don’t trust a lot of people to understand, and I rarely ask for help because of it.
I got hit by a car soon after the pain disappeared and it’s been six months since. I’m back to square one because of it. Then zero. Then negative one. Then further and further down the line. Because now I’m on a cane exclusively, and to stand or walk without it has me rushing back to it. My memory is bad now, so I leave it behind more than I should. Hitting the floor isn’t fun, and hitting a wall of any kind feels even harder. Those around me can see the pain now in the form of a shiny silver cane that clinks and rattles, and they don’t say a word against it because it’s so in their face and loud in the halls whenever I walk. But I still know they’re upset that I’m not working like everybody else. Both working in the sense of labor and jobs, and in the sense I can’t do many things on my own now. After last time, it’s hard to say exactly why. I don’t know if it’s because they pity me, are worried about me, or just tired of picking up after me when I can’t finish a task and refuse to push myself to try. At least they can pick me up off the floor when they see me unable to move.
My cat Zander, while not disabled or super forgetful, looks exactly like that cat and he has been saving my ass recently. Quite literally. He knows when I’m in the most pain, and cries at my door to tell me he’s there even though I can’t get up to let him in. We have conversations that way or whenever I’m with him, because he will always respond in some way. He barges into my room so I’m not alone, especially when I’m crying. He makes sure I’m safe with him when I can’t be by myself. He follows me around and comes to my beck and call, making sure I get what I need and that he gets love. He’s been nothing but kind and loving, no matter the mischief. I didn’t even think I would bond to any other cat, much less him, when my childhood soul-cat died. I thought I would never a pet after Bo again. He didn’t seem like the cat to be this fierce about loyalty, because he always seemed to just float around. But he quite literally broke my door and its frame to get into my room and comfort me the very same day Bo died. He hasn’t left my side since. It’s like he was waiting for a turn, and he did it so patiently and politely. Even if I wanted to and tried, I won’t ever be able to get rid of him. And I’m in no way upset about that. As I like to say, “I’m not trapped in here with you. You’re trapped in here with me.” He doesn’t suspect a thing.
I can’t bend over often, but I do it for him just so I can pet his beautiful noggin and pick him up to let him know I see him and love him. Because honestly, at this point he’s the one person at home I’m not afraid to turn to under any circumstances. It makes me feel safe, knowing that there are at least few out there in the world who would love nothing more than to take care of me and love me back.
Thank you for sharing this comic. I needed this, no matter how different we are.
I hope you feel better in any way you can, and you and your cat live long happy lives with each other. 🥹
