A year after I left Iraq, after ETSing from the army, I somehow survived a particularly dark exit-strategy situation, so to speak, and was clinging to reasons to move forward, having no friends that hadn't already moved on after I left and no family period.

When I stumbled on the ad for a baby tuxedo cat on Craigslist and first laid eyes on him, I knew he was my boy. A little context...My entire addict/toxic family used & abandoned me throughout my youth until one of my father's many big drug spirals took so much out of me that I starting failing and eventually dropped out of my senior year of college and fled the house for good. And that's when I enlisted.

When I first held him, I made a silent Vow to God and/or the universe itself that never, ever would I abandon him as they had me - this tuxedo in particular. I only have him in my life (single/no kids) and he's been (kinda) patient with me in the little room we have to share (having no car spices that all up lol), but he's worth it all.

I left the army and immediately tried to leave the planet in 2011 and then I found a 6wk old tuxedo cat in 2012, whom i would name Paul. Things, if anything have gotten worse in most ways, and more isolating, but at least I have my friend.

Last month, he turned 9. and because of that, once my birthday comes in two months, I'll have one more to thank him for.