Yesterday, our boys, Harley and Duke, crossed the rainbow bridge together. Harley’s health had been declining over the last year, but it still didn’t feel like “time” for him or for me. Last week, he started slowing down, and after talking it through, we decided to let him go. We gave ourselves a week to spoil him and shower him with love. But just a few days after deciding on Harley, Duke’s health, which had been worsening for weeks, declined rapidly as well. If we had kept Duke here without Harley, he would have slipped into a depression, and his health would have worsened even faster. They were both old boys. My old boys.
Saturday night, we had a fire in the backyard. We ate, had some wine, and gave our boys lots of treats—ones they usually wouldn’t be allowed to have. We loved on them, gave them a million hugs and kisses. Still, it didn’t feel like it was enough for me.
Sunday afternoon, after sharing some McDonald’s chicken nuggets and ice cream, Jamie had Duke on his lap and Harley was on mine. They both took their last breaths, surrounded by love, being held right until the very end. We told them how much they meant to us, how happy we were to have called them ours.
Letting them go together was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make, but I know it was the right one. It doesn’t make it any less painful, though. Harley and Dukey, wherever you are, we miss you so much already.
“I loved you your whole life, now I will spend the rest of mine missing you.”
– Jay Shipston-Fife