Each day, I find myself reliving the moments, my eyes welling up as tears escape. The wave of sadness takes flight, as it all seemed to pass too quickly. There were no months, not even weeks, just fleeting days, mere hours at best.
We knew she was growing older, her pace slowing down. So, we avoided the stairs as much as possible and treated her to special homemade meals and treats. Our strong, fierce, and stubborn girl, time was slipping away.
She followed me everywhere, patiently waiting for my return, often skipping meals until I was home. There were countless "FU moments," as she chewed on my shoes—only mine, and, of course, the more expensive ones. I would become furious, yet she remained content that I was there. And the socks...chewed, swallowed, vomited, and eventually, well, you know. But the tail wagging, the barking, the infectious excitement that led to howling, those moments were the best greetings anyone could receive. Unconditional love until the very end.
My heart aches, and a sense of emptiness has settled within our home. It just isn't the same, but with time, the void will fade. She was special, our first family dog. And since she shed so much, it's as if she'll be with us for a long time to come. Many have said that we gave her a great life. And we did, but she gave us everything she had—patience, protection, joy, laughter, warmth, companionship and an immeasurable amount of love.
This is grief. This is longing. This is sadness. This is love.