by Belinda Weiss
KC was a Valentine gift from my husband, a police officer, a hostage negotiator. I had never had a cat, did NOT want a cat. When I came home he was on duty, and there was the kitten... small and black with bright golden eyes. Ok... now I had a cat. She took to sleeping across my throat, so small, her little feet not even touching the bed. Six months later, one night, when my husband was on duty, someone bearing a grudge broke into our home and held me hostage, at gunpoint, waiting for my husband to come home ...intending to shoot us both. I was able to call the police, knowing all the hostage negotiators were at out-of-town training except for one... my husband. I knew they would not let him come to his own home. Yet, my husband heard the call, recognized the address and came immediately. Never should an officer come to his own home to render this type of aid. The three of us remained at gunpoint for six hours, talking, bargaining, reasoning, cajoling, ....and praying. I've never been so frightened. This chapter comes to a close with my husband dead and the intruder dead, ever reminded of his death each Veteran's Day.... as that is the day he died for me... and I was quite alone. Except, ...there was KC. Through the ordeal I had quite forgotten her. She was by my side. She could have fled, the door was left open that night, but she stayed with me... faithful and vigilant. She grew older, I grew fearful. She was sixteen years old and losing weight, but would not leave my side. Her weight dropped to just three pounds. She became too feeble to stand up, but would not leave my side. I took her to our loving veterianarian who soon told me that her kidneys had shut down and there was nothing to be done to help her. On Veteran's Day, exactly fifteen years after my husband died, my KC had to leave me. She guarded me through love and through adversity. I had once thought her a funny type of 'guard dog' to be given by a policeman to guard his wife... but she was the best 'guard' a gal could ever have. KC now rests, facing the east, to watch the sun rise, ...she always loved to find those sunny spots for her naps.