Bella
Thursday, August 13th, the hottest day of 2026 in the UK.
The day Kat worked a 10-hour shift at Yorkshire Ambulance Service.
The day that I worked on two and a half chapters in The Dual of Weddenskeep.
The day, like every other, Rick worked at his computer.
The day that Bella, the cat, disappeared.
In one of her favorite postures on the upstairs railing, Bella was four years old.
While Kat worked, she jumped into Rick’s lap and stepped from leg to leg, enjoying his strokes and soft words. Perhaps she’d end her visit by lying down for a catnap on his lap.
When she heard Kat coming through the door she ran to meet her. Kat swooped her up into her arms like a baby, cuddling and kissing her. Even though Bella didn’t really like it, she tolerated the affection because it came from her “mom.”
Then on Thursday, she disappeared. She did not cuddle on Rick’s lap nor run to Kat when she came home.
From Wednesday bedtime, she was not seen.
A very thorough search of the house and yard was made throughout Friday. But not a trace of her could be found.
A skittish cat, Bella did not go outside even when the door was open.
On the hottest day of the year, could she have suffered heatstroke and died in a corner somewhere? Will we have to smell her before we find her?
Or recalling Enoch and Elijah, could she have been taken up? Will we ever know?
What we do know is mourning the loss of this gentle family member who made us laugh every day. We know grief and sadness. Bella is loved. Wherever she is, may she rest in peace.
