When

they leave,
they take a piece
of us with
them.
To a place
where it
can never
be retrieved from.

When they
leave,
words are
pointless as
we stand by
helplessly,
steeped in
unbearable pain.

When they leave,
we tell
ourselves
stories of never
ever loving
another dog. Ever
again.

When they
leave, we
feel shame
at having let
them go, while
being brave for
protecting them
from further
misery.

When they
leave, we
blame ourselves
for all the
should haves
and could haves.

When they
leave, we
just miss them,
and the hole
they leave in
our lives never
quite heals up,
ever again.

When they
leave, we
eventually remember
the good times.
Their gentle faces,
nurturing nearness
and goofy glee.

When they leave,
they leave us
better people,
having glimpsed
an amazing
way to
truly live.

~Lu