Our Journey

Chapter 2

                 "He's gone" the vets voice rang loud within the silent room my arms wrapped around Ciel as my tears blended into his fur, "come back!" My voice echoed within the room, my wife, 2 sisters, and mother let me scream and cry to my heart's content. My heart shattered knowing he will never walk besides me again, slowly opening my eyes seeing the sun rays enter my cold empty room my heart pounded with in my chest as my body ached from laying in one spot for too long, memories flash through my mind. My eyes shifted around the room seeing my wife laying by my side her arms wrapped around my waist as she murmured under her breath "I'm here."

             Slowly lifting myself out of bed, moving around the room as quietly as possible seeing our two other dogs sound asleep at the feet of our bed trying their best to snuggle into our blankets and stealing our pillows, gently opening the door to our room, and walking out into our small apartment the hallway was lit up with assorted colors. Slowly walking into the living room and sitting on my tan couch looking at the floor as if Ciel was sitting in front of me, telling me to take him outside or to feed him his breakfast. Tears slowly fell down my cheeks, my hands started to shake as the morning chilly winter air nipped at my skin.

            "Navi show him around, show Ciel it's all right, please take care of him" I whispered into the air knowing no one will hear my sorrows, I must be strong even though I am breaking into pieces. Slowly wiping away the tears from my cheeks, "Navi you must help us teach him" my wife voice rang though the silence looking up seeing the small yard we once had, looking at her movements as she takes a leash connecting it to Navi's collar. My hand held a leash as well seeing Ciel sitting Infront of me excited to leave and go on an adventure.

            Looking around seeing a brown broken down trailer in front of me, the roof was slowly caving in as the porch detached itself, it moved every time someone walked upon it making you feel as if it would break with a simple gust of wind. Half the yard was sand as the large tree sucked all the water making it impossible to grow grass, the other half had weeds growing next to a metal shed that was filled to the brim with junk that hasnt been touched in years. Slowly standing up a light jacket keeping me warm from the morning air "you ready?" Lylace's voice brought me back to the situation at hand. Looking at her confused seeing her walking closer to me with Navi her Belgian Malinois, his black ears touched together creating the nickname of plier head.

          "We are going on a walk remember?" Her voice filled with amusement shaking my head and realizing we made this agreement to train together. Walking to the elementary school park that was only a few minutes away there was a trail behind the park which made a beautiful place to train next to the school was a manufactured pond, I grew up in this area, so I knew every path to take to run if needed to be. Once we got to the trail, we stopped for lylace grabbed a dual leash connected to Ciel and Navi while talking gently.

           "Today we are learning recall, and you Navi are the best at recall" she stood while taking off the leash that connected me to Ciel and started walking slowly speeding my pace and grabbed her hand we are walked together we watched as Navi and Ciel walked together their pace sped us "not too far Navi" his head turned before he pulled Ciel back to us and sitting before receiving a treat. Looking at lylace seeing her smiling with the sun beating down upon her skin, she looked like a goddess that was sent down from the heavens showing me the way. "let's go home" her voice was soft as silk, Ciel ran towards me with Navi by his side before sitting in front of me so I could put his leash back on and take the dual leash off. Turning around to go home only to touch the wall in front of me.

                The hallway lights shined down upon a picture of Ciel and Navi standing next to each other snow surrounded them with the date 12\19\20 sketched across the photo, the last photo of them together before the passing of Navi "Teach him Navi, teach him it's ok" my voice trembled as my fingers outlined the photo. The sound of the front door opening, catching my attention "we will find the fountain of youth sis he will live forever" my sister's voice broke the silence as she closed the door. Closing my eyes while wiping away the tears before turning around to face her 'I have to be strong' thinking softly as I straightened my back and throwing a smile upon my lips.

           I could see she been crying as well while her small 2-year-old child ran towards me with open arms "bubba?" his voice cracked as he looked around for Ciel "bubba Where?" he mumbled stopping in his tracks and started to search my apartment. Swallowing my tears and kneeling to him "bubba gone with Navi-" my voice cracked while I looked into his brown eyes seeing a small sparkle "heaven?" his small voice finished my sentence as he tilted his head while pointing towards the door "find bubba haven?" he questioned softly as I gently grabbed his hand and smiling softly "Toby, Bubba already left," my sister's voice rang softly. Tears started to fall down his cheeks as he ran to his mother, his movement slows down as he saw his toy on the couch, he ran towards it to play, forgetting the small conversation.