Cobber

I closed my eyes for the last time. Their tear-stained faces were the last things I saw. I had been waiting. Waiting for the moment when they would all be together to say their goodbyes. They needed to be together. They needed one another.

“We love you…you’re a good dog.” That was last thing I heard. I closed my eyes, and felt a calmness wash over me.

I felt myself go, up, up, and up. I felt the pain leave my body, and when I opened my eyes again, I was standing in a grassy field.

The sun was warm, the air was fresh, and the grass was so very lush and green. I felt young, oh so young. I ran like I did when I was a pup, over the hills and around the trees. Then in the distance, I saw it: a brilliant rainbow. It was then I knew where I was.

My time had finally come.

“Hello, Cobber.”

I turned, and saw a small brown pup sitting behind me. A face I had not seen in a good many years. She had been so young when she left us, only a pup…but I remembered her.

“Rosie…” I whispered. “It’s you. So this has to be the place, the place we all go.”

Rosie nodded. “Yes. Welcome to Rainbow Bridge, Cobber. Welcome home.” She wagged her tail and snuggled up to me. “We’ve been waiting. We all have. Come. They’re waiting to see you.” She ran ahead, and I followed. We reached a large tree with two others sitting underneath. They came forward, and I recognized one of them instantly.

“Sheila!” I wagged my tail and she smiled and licked my nose.

“Hello, Cobber. Welcome home.” She stepped aside and the other stepped forward. A rabbit. I tilted my head. I leaned over and gave him a sniff, and then it dawned on me.

“You lived upstairs when I was a pup!”

The rabbit chuckled. “Yes. I had lived with our family for a while before you came into our family. Of course, we never met.” He smiled, “But we have now. My name is Caramel, but they always called me Bunny Man.”

I nodded. Bunny Man…it had a nice ring to it. I looked around. “So, this is it. This is Rainbow Bridge. This is…this is the end.”

Rosie came over and leaned against me. “Not the end just yet. We still have to wait for the others. And maybe we’ll even make some new friends before that. One day we’ll all be together again.”

And until that time comes, we will wait together. One family, together forever.

For those of you who have lost a pet, may you find peace in knowing you will be together again.

Art work done by grouse!

Story done by me

Picture of mountain taken by a friend