Your wings were ready but we were not, we should have felt prepared for this day, for months we insisted that you remain with us, were we so selfish each time we decided you should stay? Those fateful, family discussions which ended with: Save Jacob! With us, he must remain. Your sad eyes quietly suffered, your bloated, lethargic body laid sprawled on the porch, each morning and evening your advanced Cushing’s disease required invasive, pain-controlling shots. We couldn’t let you go, but you begged, silently cried for freedom, to slip away from this world, far from your suffering, we insisted a little longer in our lives you must remain, we loved you, saying goodbye so soon? There was no way. Your elderly state, your debilitating illness, your immense pain, the accompanying afflictions, as a family pet you’d been so good to us, and now we would not let you leave. But for all your suffering, there came the time when we realised and acknowledged that with future wings you must be allowed to roam free, your wings were almost ready, but our hearts still ached for you not to leave. And as I stared into your beautiful, deep brown, understanding eyes, I held your paw as the green calming fluid took hold of you, my darling, my sweet, brave Jacob, my loving companion before me, who comforted me through hell and heaven, finally at peace, our tears continued to well, hysterical, guttural wails, our world now bare, lost without you, my two younger brothers and I left alone in this stark grey, private room: utterly broken, crestfallen, despairing. © 2020 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved. Personal photos.
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