Love's healing touch

A heartbreaking goodbye

march 3rd 2022

I was downstairs, getting ready and preparing my breakfast. Lately, my cat hadn't been doing too well and had taken to living in a cardboard box in the hallway. I was so worried about her; she's my best friend. As I went to get my breakfast, she followed me and lay down on the back door mat. Something didn't seem right. I was eating my breakfast when I heard a noise. I didn't know where it was coming from until I stood up on my chair. To my horror, it was my cat. She was shaking and seemed unable to breathe. "MUM! OMG, IT'S PIXIE!" I screamed, barely able to breathe myself. I felt helpless.

Fortunately, one of our neighbor's daughters is a vet. She called us to bring Pixie to her clinic before it opened, and Pixie was rushed there. As I was leaving for school, they were leaving with Pixie. I barely got to say goodbye. I had a sinking feeling that it wasn't going to go well, but I had to go to school. I tried to think positively, hoping she'd be okay, but I was wrong.

At 3:00 pm, school was out. This was the moment I dreaded most: coming home to either good news or bad news. I was expecting the worst. "I'm home, Mum," I softly called out. She beckoned me into the living room and sat me down. "How's Pixie?" I asked. "Well," my mum began, "I'm sorry, but she was put to sleep. It was the best thing to do as she's so small and would have suffered." The world went silent. My best friend was gone, and I'd never see her again. I sobbed for what felt like ages. It didn't feel real.