A reunion long overdue
It was five long years since Samuel, an animal caretaker dedicated to the job, had last laid eyes on Mia, the white tiger who had a special place in his heart. Months of anticipation had finally been leading up to the reunion day, and when that day was finally approaching, Samuel was feeling a mixture of excitement and nerves. He had taken care of Mia since the early days of her life at the sanctuary, and he had emotionally bonded with her. Samuel had really put his heart into looking after her, from nurturing care such as feeding and grooming to quiet moments of contact. As time went on, their relationship went from being a caretaker to an animal bond to a relationship that Samuel would never forget. Mia was more than an animal he cared for – she had become family.
Mia was relocated to a facility some time ago and to him, the purpose had to be understood – part of a breeding program needed to ensure the survival of a species. Samuel would only feel proud of this for his role in being an essential part of such a program, but it had hard moments letting go. It was a decision taken for the betterment of others, but it could hardly ease the pain of separation. The memories of those beautiful, formative years together lingered with Samuel, leaving an impression in his heart like precious treasure. The moments of fun they had together in these quiet times when Mia would curl up beside him or playfully paw at his feet had created a bond which was impossible to break. Though five years had passed, the hope of reuniting together never faded away, but now that time had actually arrived, it was truly overwhelming.
For years, he cared for Mia, took her from being a very playful little cub to her now majestic and powerful position in life as a tiger, step by step, into one’s life, creating two lives. It was more than just responsibility with Samuel for Mia, but something of a passion-a true understanding of the needs of the tiger species and a need to save their lives. He was not duty-born, but his love for Mia grew out of time, developed from the quiet, day-to-day rituals of care. It was a reminder of how beautiful and fragile life was and how important it was to protect and nurture those whom we care about.
