Twelve years.

I count myself rather lucky

to have found you

to have chosen you

to have been chosen by you

to watch you grow and live.

twelve years

of headbutts and

three a.m. zoomies and

little paw pats for attention.

Twelve years

of watching the "ghost flies" and

love nips and

not playing with your toys but loving shiny chains.

Twelve years

of tuna water but never tuna fish and

egg yolk off my fingers and

sandpaper kisses for seemingly no reason.

Twelve years

of claws digging into skin and

paws kneading biscuits in my sweater and

cuddling in bed together.

Twelve years of soft mews.

Twelve years of 'I love you's.