I watched him die today.
He was dark-haired with crooked teeth and large tumors on his legs.
Though he hadn’t eaten for 5 days, he looked like he hadn’t eaten for weeks.
As he came into the room, he could barely move. His legs wobbled, his back arched, his jaw slack.
He urinated all over himself. Then he sat and when exhausted from a moment’s sitting, lay down in his own urine.
Though nearly blind, fear was evident in his dark eyes.
Though ugly in reality, she obviously did not see it.
She loved him. Her caresses, her soft words, her tears, her presence all were for him.
I asked about him.
“How old is he?”
“12,” she murmured.
I looked down at my dog, Hero, and wondered if he’d be in a similar condition in 3 years.
“What’s his name?“
”Kuno.“
”That’s a cool name. I really like it.“
”Really?“ She seemed surprised, wiping the tears from her eyes.
I turned to hide the ones welling up in mine.
She touched his chest. Waited. Waited.
And she wept. Sobbed.
He was gone.
No more wags of the tail welcoming her home.
No more nuzzling for attention.
No more warning barks to would-be intruders.
I watched him die today...
...and wondered if my passing would be as undramatic & uneventful to the rest of the world as Kuno’s.
He was dark-haired with crooked teeth and large tumors on his legs.
Though he hadn’t eaten for 5 days, he looked like he hadn’t eaten for weeks.
As he came into the room, he could barely move. His legs wobbled, his back arched, his jaw slack.
He urinated all over himself. Then he sat and when exhausted from a moment’s sitting, lay down in his own urine.
Though nearly blind, fear was evident in his dark eyes.
Though ugly in reality, she obviously did not see it.
She loved him. Her caresses, her soft words, her tears, her presence all were for him.
I asked about him.
“How old is he?”
“12,” she murmured.
I looked down at my dog, Hero, and wondered if he’d be in a similar condition in 3 years.
“What’s his name?“
”Kuno.“
”That’s a cool name. I really like it.“
”Really?“ She seemed surprised, wiping the tears from her eyes.
I turned to hide the ones welling up in mine.
She touched his chest. Waited. Waited.
And she wept. Sobbed.
He was gone.
No more wags of the tail welcoming her home.
No more nuzzling for attention.
No more warning barks to would-be intruders.
I watched him die today...
...and wondered if my passing would be as undramatic & uneventful to the rest of the world as Kuno’s.
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