Shock at the sight of the needle in her wrist and the plunger’s deadly squeeze. I kissed her head while she was still warm and threaded my fingers through her soft fur. Her heart that beat regular and strong was now still, like my own. I opened her eye and she was gone. Why did I do that? Hoping to see her blink? To nuzzle me and think: That’s OK, never mind, I'll go and play now.