I’m sorry. I should have learned that I need to include a content warning with that piece. Four years later, my partner couldn’t really read it either. She had to text me her response to it which went something like, “This is really good, but I can’t talk about it now” and we were in the same room.

The day after we had to make the decision to put Arrow down, Sally’s mom fell and broke her hip. So the grieving process for both of us got interrupted (probably both good and bad).

This was a day we had dreaded and didn’t know how we could get through. But we did. And the grieving continues in different ways. Her anniversary this year was particularly hard for me and maybe because I wrote this piece. I don’t know. She really did accompany both of us through some challenging times and we are forever grateful and will forever feel her loss.

I had a friend who wrote me to say this piece helped him as he had to put his dog down two days after reading this. I really do believe making the hardest decision in our lives was also the kindest decision. That helped me get through that day.