BRING ME TO LIFE // Prince William

Chapter Eleven - Saying goodbye

"How lucky I am that I have something 

that makes saying goodbye 

so hard." - Winnie the Pooh

~*~

20 September 2011

Evelyn and William both rushed over to the barn where Chanel lived.  She had been a nervous wreck the whole car ride.  

"It's going to be okay," he told her as he squeezed her thigh as she looked out the window as it was raining out and they both had their wellies on.  

"You don't know that," she murmured quietly.  

"Talk to me," Evelyn said as they got out of the car after they parked and turned it off.

"She's been like this for an hour.  The veterinarian said it isn't looking good.  She hasn't gotten up at all."

"My poor girl," Evelyn commented sadly as William held her hand in comfort as they briskly walked into the barn where her stable was.  "Thanks for calling, Scarlett," she thanked the owner of the barn.

Chanel had been having perpetual coughs as well as colic for a few weeks now.  The veterinarian thought he had everything under control and it seemed as though Chanel might have been getting better.  Except tonight she took a turn for the worst.  She completely stopped eating and it was awful for everyone to watch as she loved to eat and always stole apples from Evelyn or anyone who took care of her.  Unfortunately, she also struggled with laminitis which was why she was now laying in the barn.  

"Hey girl," Evelyn said as she got on the floor and pet her as Chanel let out a snort as she lifted her head up at the voice of her owner.  "I'm here.  Can we get her a warm blanket?" Evelyn asked the vet, whose name was Jack.  He nodded his head and went and got one as he came back a few moments later with it.  

Jack had been at the barn the last few weeks as he had been called to check on Chanel and make sure she was doing okay.  Seeing if she made any progress at all and unfortunately she had just been getting weaker.

"It's not goodbye," Evelyn said as she sniffled and wiped her tears with her hand.  "It's see you later, Chanel.  I love you.  Thank you for being my best friend," she said as she leaned down and gave her one last kiss to the center of her forehead and William leaned down as well as he laid a hand on her neck.

"Thank you for being there for my girl," he told her.  "I know I didn't know you long enough but I know how much she loves you and how much you love her.

After they gave Chanel their love, she closed her eyes and took her last breath.  William wrapped his arm around Evelyn as she cried into his shoulder.

*

"I'm sorry about Chanel," he consoled his fiancé as she was crying in their apartment and she wiped her tears that were running down her cheeks.

"She was more than just a horse," Evelyn said as she looked at the picture of her riding Chanel.  "She helped me more than she would ever possibly know.  In my toughest times and in my greatest achievements.  I always told her all my secrets because all she could do was listen and she would would make a nicker or a snort," she told him and he massaged her shoulders in comfort.  

"Animals are always a source of comfort," he agreed with her and she nodded her head and cuddled into him more as he wrapped his arms around her.

It had been a couple weeks since Chanel passed away and she decided that she should get out of their apartment besides meetings with the Queen and her classes she was taking at Buckingham Palace.  She had been okay but it was still hard on her.  Just like when her family lost Bran.  For the first week she stayed in their apartment - not really wanting to do anything or see anyone.