Rocco’s tail gave one last, slow thump against the comforter where he rested in front of the fireplace while soft music played. For several years, this happy, chunky, Rotty-mix with one white paw had enjoyed his second chance at life after being adopted by our son. It was a very good life for him as he enjoyed walks in the park and trips upstate to our home where rice cakes were always waiting the moment he came barreling through the door.

On this afternoon, his breathing was shallow and quiet. We all sat together around him, gently petting him and speaking softly in his ear as we waited for our Veterinarian to arrive. He briefly opened his eyes, looking at us with a sense of trust and comfort. I pressed my hand against him, feeling the slow pulse of a heart that had given everything it had.

We kept telling him what a good boy he had been while telling him to rest easy as the vet spoke in her soft, kind whisper. The room grew so still that we could hear the wind rustling the leaves outside.

A single tear rolled down my cheek and we all held him close as the heavy fatigue finally washed over him. His eyes closed and drifted into a deep and painless sleep, the house felt suddenly empty. Slowly, the quiet settled in, yet the air still seemed full of his playful, gentle, spirit, his collar rested beside him and we knew that he was off enjoying another walk in the park or running free at the beach.

From the Writer’s Workshop: Write a post in 12 sentences.