4 years+ ago my dad bought a baby iguana from the Pet Safari at Ikano..
When we brought him home, he was so hyper..running around like...a kid?
He had the most beautiful bright green skin. So we called him Greeny.
At first I was quite afraid to touch and to hold him because he seemed like a lizard..
but there was this one time, I brought him to college (Metro) for my english presentation.
We were required to present a methodical process of something.
I don't know why, but I chose the topic "How to Tame an Iguana"
On the day of my presentation I was pretty anxious because I would have to carry the iguana around the whole day.
I began wondering if I'll receive a few scratch and bite marks by the time I reached home.
But I learnt that I was so terribly wrong.
The moment I held him, I could feel that he wouldn't be harmful. I was expecting him to be cold and slimy..but..he was so warm and gentle.
Whenever I stroked his head gently he would close his eyes...I remember telling myself "I didn't know an iguana could look so cute.."

However..I noticed that..When girls saw him, their usual response would be "ew....that's disgusting".

And I really hate that.
I hate it when some of my parents friends come by our house for a visit and say things like like "eh? that thing haven't die yet ah? so geli. eee"
I'd feel like giving a tight slap across their face and tell them "his life has got nothing to do with your well being so just shut up"

I noticed that the iguana could actually recognise people.
Or more importantly, he recognised..me.
Everytime I came home, he would be climbing up the cage to where I was and I would pat his head like how I would pat my dog.
He would respond with the usual closing of the eyes as though he's enjoying my touch..which makes me go "aww.."

But..the past few days I began notice some changes in him.
He didn't climb around as he usually did when he saw me..he would just lay there.
He arms and legs would move once in a while but he didn't really made much movements.
I told me dad (technically, the iguana belongs to him) to bring him to the vet..but he disagreed.
I told my mom..if we could bring him to the vet and my mom said the vet would usually only treat dogs, cats and furry animals.
Obviously I didn't believe her. I'm not that dumb.
But the both of them agreed that taking the iguana to the vet would be a waste of money.
They probably only saw him as another lizard-looking-thing with no emotions.

So..for the past few days..I witnessed his passing..
he began to grow weaker day by day..
his eyes were always either closed..or half closed.
2 days ago when his eyes were half closed, I actually stared and him and told him..
"can you see me?..please hold on..don't die..please.."
I don't know what I was doing talking to an animal like that but I just didn't want him to go.

I googled about iguana illness and how to cure it..but almost all my findings resulted in the same answer, "bring it to the vet because it is serious".

This evening, my dad suddenly came up to me and told me that the iguana has died.
I ran downstairs and saw his cage in the middle of the garden.
Instead of the bright green he used to be...the skin colour which covered his whole body was...brown.
I was beginning to give up hope when all of a sudden I saw his head moving a little and there were little gasps of breathing.
It was difficult for him but he was still breathing!!
He was looking at me..and I could feel that he was conveying the message..saying "I'm sorry..I can't do this anymore.."
I didn't want to believe it..I kept believing that he would survive no matter what.
So, I ran up and told my dad "the iguana is still alive!"
but my dad insisted it was dead and even if it is not dead it was going to die anyway.
I went back downstairs and I saw my maid carrying the iguana, putting him in a plastic bag and taking him away.
......I couldn't help him.
My parents didn't want the iguana to die in the house because they didn't want any infections to be passed on.
It's so cruel.....why are they so cruel to him?..

I went back into my room and started sobbing like a child.
Everything kept going through my mind.
Things like, how he wasn't appreciated by so many despite being so beautiful.
He was such a beautiful creature but many people always turned away in disgust.
Why?
It was so unfair.
Even towards his dying days he couldn't go in peace.
I feel so terrible...I'm a horrible person..I told him not to go and even when he was trying to hold on, I didn't do enough to help him..to keep him alive.

I wish I could hold him again like I did, I wish I could turn back time and take care of him better.
I wish his life didn't end like this..

If I had one last thing I could say to him and if he could understand me..I would say this:

I'm so sorry..if animals who dies goes to heaven, I'm sure you will be in heaven...and your beauty will be appreciated there. It's better than being on earth where all the ruthless good for nothing idiots condemn you just because you are not the stereotyped "cute" animal. You were the best, smartest, cutest,tamest iguana I've ever seen and touched. I hope you will be at peace.

--------------------------------------------
To those who thinks that there is no possible way anyone could have a connection with an iguana, please, re-think again.
So what if an iguana looks like a lizard?
It's still a living thing.
and if people could have wonderful connections with dogs, cats, rabbits, monkeys, etc.
Why not an iguana?
Trust me, iguanas do have emotions.
Or at least mine did. I could see it, and I could feel it...


-RIP Greeny-
Goodbye..
..I will miss you so much
:'(