Note: This is my first Cats fic, so any feedback would be helpful and appreciated. Enjoy! (Yeah, yeah, I don't own Cats, unfortunately.)

You never thought I'd speak up, did you?

Then again, you've probably forgotten.

I love you, Macavity, and you couldn't see it.

Everyone else could.

Munkustrap, Alonzo, Demeter, even Tugger… all of them knew.

You were so blind.

Oh, that's right. You thought I was still over you.

I was, for a little while.

When you were with Demeter, it broke my heart, but I never let you see it.

As if it wasn't obvious enough.

You of all people should have been able to pick up on it.

But you didn't.

I had to tell you myself.

You seemed so surprised.

What, did you think I wasn't capable of feeling that?

Everybody else seemed to think so.

But, I had let you go.

For your sake, and her's, and my own.

And you were happy.

And so was she.

And for a while, everything was fine.

Then it happened.

You know what I'm talking about.

And she left you for Munkustrap.

She left you.

Why did you come back to me when she left you?

Was it because you knew that no matter how bad things got, I'd never leave you?

Was it because I could still see the tom behind what the others thought of you?

I comforted you as best I knew how.

And I had hope again.

I tried to tell you that she wasn't the only queen in the world.

I wanted to tell you that I still love you.

But you couldn't let her go.

You were convinced that no one else could care about you the way she had.

You told me over and over how much you love her.

Did you know you were killing me?

You never saw me cry myself to sleep, night after night.

I never told anyone, but they could still see.

If you'd only look at me.

But you never saw.

I was so close to you, but all you could see was her.

You couldn't let her go.

You couldn't let her be happy with Munkustrap.

You couldn't let yourself find someone else.

Then, you finally noticed that something was wrong.

You were worried about me.

You didn't know what made me act this way.

You said if there was anything you could do, I just needed to say it.

I couldn't ask it of you, Macavity.

Demeter tried to tell you about it.

Munkustrap told me never to lose hope, and he tried to help me get through to you.

He said it wasn't right that I couldn't get the one I loved.

Even Tugger could see that.

I began slipping farther and farther away.

Even though you were concerned for me, you still couldn't see what the trouble was.

I wish you could've helped, but there was nothing you could do.

Now it's too late.

I'm leaving, Macavity.

And you won't see me again.

At least, not in this life.

Maybe if this reaches you in time, you'll be able to come to me before I go.

I'll wait for you as long as I can.

And don't try to convince me to reconsider.

You know you could never best me in an argument.

Trust me, it's for the best.

Even if you could convince me, there's no stopping it.

They've tried everything, but nothing on this earth can save me now.

I'm dying, Macavity.

No medicine can cure me.

No doctor can fix a broken heart.

It's far too late for me.

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I, Jemima, love you, Macavity.

I always will.

And I can't stand it any longer.

The pain is too great for me.

So this is goodbye.

Farewell, wherever you fare.

And remember this always, my dear:

I love you.

"If you can't love me,

Let me forget how to breathe,

Let my heart learn not to beat,

Would you kiss me just before I die?

If you will, then I'll gladly go,

Just don't leave my side,

Till my eyes close for good,

And my breathing is silenced,

My heart still and at rest,

My broken soul finally healed,

Please promise you won't leave me till then."