I feel helpless. Magnus is dying, I’m sure of it, but according to the vet, other than not pooping and now, not eating, he’s fine. His kidney function is better than it should be for being a twenty year old cat. Everything points to him just needing to start eating again. We gave him some anti-nausea pills, and got some food in him, but it doesn’t seem to be enough. He’s still listless.

I’m about to lose my best buddy for twenty years, and there’s nothing I can do and no real reason for it, as far as I can tell. There’s clearly something else wrong and we (including the vet) have missed it. But at his age, surgery isn’t an option. Only pills and forcefeeding. An anesthetic alone could kill him.

This feeling of helplessness is unsustainable and maddening.

Target: 1100 words
Written: 1193 words, novella: The Mungk