It has been a tough week. We had to put our dog Molly down after a long decline with a tumor. She was never in pain until this weekend, and I am thankful for the extra 18 months of life since discovering the tumor.

On Sunday, I took Thomas to my parents’ house while Erika took Molly to the vet. Before the vet, we all took time to say goodbye. While she wasn’t the most loving dog in the conventional sense: she wasn’t much for cuddling, but she did enjoy having the back of her ears scratched. She was very low maintenance, quiet, and didn’t whine or bark much.

We were sad to see her go, but the last 2 days we could tell she was in pain and wasn’t getting better. It was time. On Tuesday afternoon, I left work early and we took her to the lake for the last time. We found a quiet spot and laid her to rest for the last time. I didn’t realize just how emotional I was going to be. We had prepared for this for more than a year. It wasn’t until Erika took her towel with her name monogramed on it, and laid it over her and told her she was a sweet girl that my eyes couldn’t hold back the floodgates.

Pets have a place in our hearts. Sometimes they are the only ones who understand our pain and fear. Sometimes they read people better than other people can. It was the void of empathy that saddened me. I will miss her.