As We Near Our Final Goodbye

The time is coming we both know, you are getting ready to leave my side, as I am preparing for a life without you. I’ll pack your leashes and seven beds, so as not to see them empty; your leashes hanging still, by your plates unfed. Yet in spite of packing every trace, I can’t bring myself to imagine how our house will feel...drearily missing you and surely incomplete, having lost a huge chunk of its soul. I’ve already begun to feel the hole in my heart where your love will no longer be.

Watching you, throughout countless moments of my day, making sure you’re comfortable in spite of the pain we know you’re in.

Realizing I’ve walked too fast for you to follow & walking back to find you, wherever it was you lost your way. 

Noticing that more than ever before, you want to be as near to me as you can be...Because your home is wherever I am... my warmth, my smell, my heart beat; the only home you’ve ever known. 

As you look at me through those cloudy eyes, you can barely see the heart in mine. I wish I couldn’t hear your plea, but that complicity that we could both once see, can sadly still be felt, and I know that’s what you’re asking of me. My dear, forever friend, I’ll be with you till the end. 

Fourteen years have flown by, a lifetime for you, yet so unfairly short to me. My most loyal companion, beloved soul...oh, so much more than anything I could ever attempt to say. 

You have filled our hearts with endless love and joy, as you stood unconditionally by our sides in every turning of the road, through starry nights and perfect storms. 

I will miss your paw scratching my feet when it’s time to feed, the pitter-patter of your happy feet closely behind mine...Your sweet whine begging me to get out of bed...The way you stole my slippers with your wagging tail, trying to temp me to come out and play…and oh, so much more. 

I know you’ll leave resting sure that you’ve left a paw print on our hearts & souls, and I will look up to the sky & know you’ll be one of those beautiful stars looking down on us. 

You’ll be forever & always in my heart.