How my cat was important to see how complex research is

Como a minha gata me mostrou a dimensão afetiva da minha pesquisa.

I was in a very intense moment without much sleep, losing weight, and facing financial struggle to take care of her. All my time with her at that moment was about giving her meds by force, watching her suffer without any action and taking her to doctors to bring her more suffering. Everything was dark and sad, the opposite of the way it had been the whole time we lived together. In my drawings, her presence was not essential to telling my story, but at that moment, I wanted to register not the challenge we were facing, but the timeless peace she would always bring to my life.

Eu e a Encrenca. Encrenca and I.

Through this simple, few-traced drawing, I was able to express the immense dimension of my cat’s presence and her importance in my journey. Placing us among the stars gave me the tools to begin healing, as I was certain of her departure. Staging our silent conversations about unlimited space and its possibilities reshaped my expectations for my academic journey and the relevance of a close relationship with all beings around me. This is one example of how visual elements can go further to express emotional meaning.