John, my heart breaks for you. I've lost two cats before, and my current cat is already 15. The time passes WAY too fast. I cried while reading this (can't even imagine how much you must've cried while writing this), and my very deepest sympathies are with you, your partner, and your other pets. Thank you for these beautiful words and poignant truths about life and love in general. Oreo was lucky to have had such a wonderful life with you. I'm happy for you both that she got to go on her own terms.

I don't know what the afterlife looks like either, but if it doesn't have cats, well, it's not any sort of place worth going. I don't doubt that some part of Oreo lives on, and I hope you can feel her with you anytime you miss her — and even in those random little moments when you don't, and she just wants to say hi and send her love.