Rain

Rain was my best friend for 10 years. I was terrified one day when I discovered what felt like a golf ball size lump under her jaw. When I felt the same thing on the other side, I knew it was her lymph nodes. Shortly after, she was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Her oncologist assured me she could live for years with treatment. She was initially just monitored. When her white blood cell count became high enough, chemo was started. Less than a week later, we were out walking one night as we did every night. Rain appeared to get excited about something in the bushes, then suddenly collapsed on the ground. I was in disbelief, calling her name over and over like she would just come out of it, and within the span of maybe a minute, she was gone. The loss was devastating. My brain scrambled to deal with what had just happened, I told myself initially that at least I had not had to put her down. It was a loss I may never get over, but what I also tell myself is that she went doing what she most loved.