Death and Life

Tonight, my beloved puppy Angel passed away. She was the last puppy born fifteen years ago and the runt of the litter. There were eight puppies, and it was a long and difficult birthing. Twenty-four hours, starting at midnight. An emergency run to the vet. She's now in the very towel I brought her home in 15 years ago.
She was always a bit daft. I always thought if Angel were human she'd a be a bit blond, like I used to be. I'd tell her to come in and she'd go outside. She had a funny way of walking when it was feeding time, where she'd twist in a U to make sure you were following her out to the patio. She'd do this while making turns and her head into stuff. She was fiercely loyal, and she would wait by the front for us to come home. When myself or my mom would go someplace, we had Angel as an escort. She'd follow us up and down the hallway. Even in the pouring rain she'd still go outside to potty. She even tried making it out tonight, fighting to the very end to fulfill that age old compact between Dog and Man.
And now, she's gone ahead to where I can't go now. I hope I get to see her and all my other companions (pet hardly seems to fit when you've been with someone for longer than more human marriages) when it's my turn to go.

"If you get there before I do, don't give up on me.
I'll meet you when my chores are through;
I don't know how long I'll be.
But I'm not gonna let you down, darling wait and see.
And between now and then, till I see you again,
I'll be loving you. Love, me."

I love you, Angel, my sweet, silly, little old lady. And I will miss you forever.

Till we meet again, on the Other Side!