Thank you for the challenge. I had to really push through this to get my words on paper. Tears heals deep scars and wounds!
381 words.
Journaling reads: "As I held her in my arms, I felt my dog take her very last breath. Annabelle, my beautiful 8 year old Jack Rat, was gone. Holding her, and now with a motionless body, I sobbed with an intensity that shook me deeply. I realized I cried harder than I had in years. My grief was so intense, it felt as if a part of me had been ripped out. The deep sadness was like no other feeling I had ever felt.
As she laid lifeless in my arms, and her head gapped over my arm, my tears showering her little head as I remember the time I had taken that skinny long-legged puppy in my hands for the first time and declared, “She is perfect!”.
Annabelle was my first dog. I raised her from the cradle to her grave. I became more compassionate, caring person because of her. She taught me to love. She was my baby, and I was her mom. Our relationship was so vitally important to me. When I was sad, it seemed that she always knew. And with every lick, the troubles diminished.
Annabelle saw me through several stages of my life; some difficult times. Annabelle was always a steady presence in my life, always there to lick away my tears and fears. I loved her, and in return she gave me her undying loyalty and devotion.
She travelled with me, everywhere! If she wasn’t welcomed - I wasn’t either! We were inseparable. When traveling, we done a lot of camping. She was always my watch dog. She would let me know if anyone was approaching us. She stayed alert so I could rest. Annabelle was the best traveling companion that I could ask for.
Her last days with me was in much pain. Her little body couldn’t hold on much longer. I was not ready for her to go. She was terminally ill with cancer. I sobbed and sobbed for days, until the result of the lab work came back. I tried being strong for her as she was for me. But I had to tell her that it was okay to leave me, that I was going to be fine - I wasn’t.
It’s been three years, and I still think of her daily!
Credits in the gallery.
