vlog squad oneshots

euthanasia

taking my eyes off the road for a second, i glanced over at my girlfriend in the passenger seat. her hair was in a messy bun, and she was looking out the window. i didn't have to see her face to know her cheeks were tear stained, and her eyes were red and puffy. then, i looked down at the little dog in her lap.

a miniature schnauzer by the name of eddie was laying across her legs. his head was resting on his paws, and he looked tired. gabbie and i both knew this was for the best, but it didn't make it any easier for her. we'd been living together for a long time, but the dog was hers. he always had been. she was the one taking the blow.

she absentmindedly stroked down his back, fighting the tears that were inevitably going to spill. i reached over and held her hand, and she looked over at me with pain in her eyes. i gave her a sympathetic smile, and she looked back down at eddie. dropping my hand, she went back to petting him. it hurt to see her like this.

we pulled into the vet parking lot, and i went around to her side to open the door. she held his frail body close to her chest in a maternal, protective way as we walked in. she took a seat in the waiting room, and i walked over to the front desk to check him in. "hijazi," i told the front desk woman, so she could mark that we were here for the vet as i glanced over to check on gab. the woman behind the desk nodded, and i went and took a seat.

she didn't meet my gaze, and it was as if she was afraid to be weak around anyone. i knew how much she was hurting, and i wanted to be there for her, but i respected her boundaries. we sat in silence until we were called back. she looked anxious— understandably so, and i walked by her side as she carried him into a room down the hall.

the man doing the procedure gestures for her to put him on the table in the middle of the room. he stood on one side, and we stood on the other as gabbie gently laid him down, making sure he wasn't in any pain. she really did love him. "you can choose to be present or step out," the veterinarian said monotonously as he began prepping different things. i was slightly annoyed that he was acting like this was just another day while she was so distraught.

"i want to be in here," she replied softly, still looking down at eddie. he nodded and began explaining how this would work. they were going to give him an injection to stop his heart, and then they would take care of the rest, and we were free to go. gabbie gently stroked his ears, and he looked like he knew this was the end. his eyes never wavered from her as she spoke softly to him. "you're a good boy. everything's okay. no more pain, okay? i love you. mommy loves you," she whispered. the injection had already gone in, and it would only take a minute or two.

she leaned down and kissed his head as his breathing was slowing. tears were quietly streaming down her face as she continued petting him and holding onto these last moments. his eyes drifted shut, and i knew that was it. she looked up at me, and everything in me ached from the scene before me. i held out my arms, and she fell into my embrace, sobbing quietly into my chest. i rubbed circles on her back as she cried, trying to comfort her and let her know that everything would be okay. she clutched to me as if she thought she might lose me as well.