His name sounds common but spelled differently. He is still so well remembered, in fact, he successfully etched sad and beautiful memories in the deeper surface of my heart. Not so long ago, he was my "Best Friend"...I know it was not in his capacity to cry and laugh with me, but in his silent look as he sat there on the edge of my bed, I knew he understood and in his eyes that penetrate through the darkness, he saw how many times my heart was broken and almost beyond repair. He was just there...just to listen and sympathized with me in his own way of consoling a desperate friend. That friend was me.
This morning, I visited his graveyard. I brought no flowers...no candles. I only brought with me the sweet
and sad memories he left in my subconscious mind. The graveyard no longer looks like one, the place which was four years ago was just a vacant space of a garden of Doña Auroras and Bromeliads, is now planted with bermuda grass, part of its new landscaping.
But even if the place looks different now, I know buried underneath is the frail body, now
already reduced to bones of my dear beloved "friend"...
For a while, I enjoyed the flashing back of the sweet happy times when he was still
alive...He was so much a part of the family. I remember he always ran coming to me each
time I call his name..."Benstoi". I can still see the playful scene of him and Lara, my eldest
daughter who also treated him as her playmate. I can still see them in my memory running after each other, but Lara giving up cause Benstoi would then challenge her to climb up
the santol tree in our backyard.
He was such an adorable creature. I thought God must have 'given' him to us for
a source of comfort and joy. If there was someone who could be called for a witness of
how bitterly and how bleak the circumstances appeared to be at that time in my life, it
would be Benstoi. So when he passed away on that cold lonely night of February 10, 2008, I know I lost a valuable friend whom I can hardly find among humans. He died, and I saw how he struggled for his last breath. I cried that night until morning, but even then
swollen eyes and a cracked heart in me would not be enough to stand tribute to my most
Valuable Friend, a different kind...cause he didn't have the heart of stone of some cruel
human beings...I will always treasure his sweet memories, I still have his picture in my album...One day I want to capture his innocence, his unquestioning loyalty and a love that didn't ask for a payment in return. I want to capture these priceless qualities in a canvas,
where I could paint a picture of Benstoi...out of memory which will never fade in my
heart. Benstoi is and will always be that lovable, sweet and ever loyal pet cat I was so fortunate to have in those days...not so long ago, and the memories still live on in my mind.
