佚名/Anonymous
Saying goodbye to Meg was the hardest thing I‘ve ever done. She’d been part of my life for so long, always there when I needed her.
Throughout the last ffteen years, shed been my closest friend, sharing my joy and sadness.
Shed seen me marry and divorce, have two children, lose my mother and nurse my father through a long illness. So much in one lifetime.
We buried her in her favourite corner of the garden, beneath the flowering cherry tree. Matthew made a little cross out of wood and Laura carefully printed her name in red crayon.
Friends are always full of good advice at times like that. Get another dog is one of the favourites-but you cant replace a friend like that.
My father had been left almost helpless after a stroke. I‘d nursed him back to health, but I was beginning to feel that we’d taken a step backwards.
A month after Megs passing, I took a tray into the garden for Dad. He liked to sit on the bench in the sunshine.
“Tea and biscuits, Dad.”I said cheerfully.
He turned away, startled, but not before Id seen the tear on his cheek.
“What a lovely day，”I burbled, giving him time to compose himself.
“Yes Jill，”he said at last.“Its beautiful.”
“Try to eat something, Dad.”
He sighed and looked up at the sky.
“The children will be home from school soon.”I smiled.“Then youll have a fight on your hands if you want a biscuit.”
He chuckled softly and I had to swallow the lump which had risen in my throat.
“I love you, Dad.”I rested my hand on his shoulder.“Please, dont give up.”
“I dont know what you mean.”He shrugged.
“Yes, you do. You‘ve fought every inch of the way, you were winning, too, but lately, it’s as if youve just given up.”
He heaved a sigh and picked up a biscuit, nibbling at it before grinning at me.
Dads decline puzzled the doctor, too.
“I‘m sorry. There’s nothing physically wrong with your father, apart from what‘s left over from the stroke. And mentally, well, I really don’t think theres anything to worry about there.”