再掲

Tomorrow Never Comes
　　　by Norma Cornett Marek


If I knew it would be the last time
that I’d see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly,
and pray the Lord your soul to keep.
If I knew it would be the last time
that I’d see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss,
and call you back for just one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I’d hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would tape each word and action,　
and play them back throughout my days.
If I knew it would be the last time,
I would spare an extra minute or two,
To stop and say “I love you,”
instead of assuming you know I do.

So just in case tomorrow never comes,
and today is all I get,
I’d like to say how much I love you,
and I hope we never will forget.
Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you’re waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you’ll surely regret the day
That you didn’t take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss,
And you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today
and whisper in their ear
That you love them very much,
and you’ll always hold them dear.
Take time to say "I’m sorry,"... "Please forgive me,"
... "thank you" or "it’s okay".
And if tomorrow never comes,
you’ll have no regrets about today.
　



猫のことを想いつつ。
震災で大切な人を亡くした方々を想いつつ。



朝起きて、猫が亡くなっているのを発見した時に、もちろん悲しく、やりきれない思いでしたが。

とにかく、最後まで苦しいのに頑張った猫をたくさん、たくさん褒めてやりました。

少しだけれどご飯も自分で食べて、トイレにも行って、生きようと頑張っていました。本当に苦しかったと思う。苦しいのに一緒にいてくれてありがとう、と見送りました。

安楽死と自然死と、とても、とても迷ったけれど。

最後は楽にしてあげたいと思う位に水も溜まって本当に苦しそうだったけれど。きっと亡くなる瞬間も苦しかっただろうと思うけれど。

朝起きたらもう亡くなっていたので、苦しい呼吸を撫ぜて安らかにしてあげられなかったことをとても可哀想だと思うけれど。

猫自身が頑張る姿を毎日見て、最後まで見届けようと思い続けた日々でした。

毎日毎日猫に I love you. と言い続けた日々でした。
後悔は無いです。