The old dog’s out under the willow tree
They said.
The two women led me there.
I knelt down to stroke his fur.
I supposed he knew why I was there.
Turning to ask the women a question
but
they were gone.
I was scared.
How could I go ahead and inject the drug
that would end the pain
forever
by myself.
I wanted the women back
To help me do this.
Help me hold the dog
so I could do the deed.
Turning back to the dog
I was startled to see that
He was holding out his leg to me.
The eyes said I’m ready just do it.
Applying the tourniquet, I found the vein easily.
Viscous pink fluid squeezed in.
The eyes closed and
body relaxed after so much pain.
Together under the willow for a while
A breeze fluffed up from somewhere.
Tickling it’s way through his fur,
the branches,
and my hair.
Me and the tree and the dog
were all connected at that moment,
swirling.
I knew where the breeze had come from.
Life was different for me after that.
