Waiting

Maggie

 I am dying, there's no question about it. Withering away into just skin, fur, and bones. That's all I am now, just a shell of my former self. Age gets us all in the end and a dog's life isn't all that long. Fifteen years is all I get.

Other breeds get longer, some shorter. It never matters though, it's never enough time for our humans. A dog's life passes in the blink of their eyes. We grow, age, and die. They move on in the end. Dying is the hard part.

Months ago my withering began. Early in January of 2016 I think, maybe a month or two later. I think the youngest that still dwells at home noticed first. The result was me going off to the father's office, the dreaded vet, and a simple teeth cleaning. Certainly that was why I was having trouble eating the dry dog food.

Only this last month did they realize I am dying. Even then they didn't give up. Coaxing me to eat, giving me free roam over the yard while my pack members remained in their pen. Pepper and Zeke, I've never known two more annoying dogs than them but they were my friends all the same.

My last visit to the vet was today. All day in a cage, given fluids in an attempt to help me. To ease my suffering. Humans don't like to let go. When I got back, I couldn't walk. All I did was stand where I was left in the yard, then later lay there as the mother petted me.

I'm near the end now, the youngest gets to say her goodbyes alone once they've shaved my left front leg in preparation for the shot that will put an end to the pain. Her voice is thick and she fights back tears, muttering words I don't understand save four. Shorty, Panda, Brutus, and Tank, all dogs and a cat the family has lost. None harder than that of Shorty. I miss him too but they don't know that.

She kisses my head and rests her head against mine. Her sadness is thick in the air, strong even to my dulled sense of smell. Only when the parents return does she move inside. I can't blame her for not wanting to watch.

The needle hurts...but it's over so fast. Everything is going black. My heart stills and I die.

My eyes open to green meadows and fresh scents. Sounds of happy dogs and cats fill my ears. I lift my head and look around. Where am I? What is this place? It doesn't make sense. Pain doesn't come when I climb to my paws. I feel better than I have in a long time.

Whatever this place is no longer matters as I take off running, enjoying the feeling of no longer being in pain. Of just being able to run. I feel amazing, almost happy. Still, I miss my humans.

The thought of them brings me scrambling to a halt, paws nearly sliding out from under me in the wet grass. "You will see them again one day," a familiar voice says and I turn to see Shorty walking up to me. "We both will Maggie. This is where we wait for them to join us."

"So I am dead," I say slowly and he nods. "What is this place then? It isn't heaven."

"I'm not sure it has a name," Shorty replies then nods over at a plain looking bridge. "What I do know is that when they join us we will cross that bridge together. I've seen others do so alongside their humans. Until then we wait and do as we wish." I nod and look out across the meadow.

It might not be heaven but it's close and I will see my humans again. No matter how long it takes I will wait for that day just like Shorty is. Like Brutus and Tank are. I will wait for that day when I can cross that bridge with them, a pack, a family once more. Others will surely join us in this wait.

"Come on Maggie and play with us," a black and white splotched cat says as she saunters up to us. "It won't feel like long, the wait, and we'll be with them again before you know it."

"Okay," I say and bound after her as she runs off with Shorty right beside me. Panda is right, it probably won't feel like long at all to us. To our humans it'll feel like an eternity. We will see them again, though, and cross that bridge I'm leaving behind together.