Hey friends. You need to read this. 

### The final days of a dog.

Late at night I could hear him teeter-tottering down the hallway, while I laid on my bed trying to sleep.
He used a wall as a guide, trying to make his way to the doggie door at the rear of the house.
I thought to myself, could there be anything so sad, so heartbreaking?

“Come here Chester.  Let me help you.”
I didn’t want to pick him up, and make him feel incapable of doing for himself.
He followed my voice.  

“This way boy.  That’s good.  Just a little farther.”
My lips dropped into a look of feeling awful, my gut churning, tears rolling down my cheeks.

Chester was the best dog ever.  He loved everybody, and they loved him.  
I would run around the coffee table, and he would chase after me.  When he leaped onto my lap Chester stared into my eyes with intensity, an intensity of pure love.

His soft black hair became grayer, and grayer, and not so soft.  
He began melting slowly away.  

Finally, one day, I realized he could no longer see, and his hearing was waning.
But, he could still feel, touch, and love.

Then another day came,  unexpectedly, and most certainly unwanted.  His hearing had almost faded away.
I shouted to help him down the lonely hallway late at night.  All he wanted was to reach the grass so he could urinate and defecate.  Chester was much too good and proud to release himself inside our house.  Yes, my house belonged to him, too.  

Early on a cold December morning a strange feeling awoke me.
I rushed into the hallway.  Chester lay curled up on the floor like a furry rag doll.  He had died in the night.  I wish I could have been there when he passed on.  My boy is irreplaceable.  Friendliest person-dog I have ever known.

Sometimes, late at night, when I go to use the bathroom, I feel his presence in the hallway.  I look down, there he is looking up at me with his pearl-black eyes, young, shiny black hair, tail wagging, anxious to chase me around the coffee table.

“Don’t worry Chester.  I’ll never forget you.  Hope you are happy wherever you are.  Miss you…”
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