DailyPrompt:What was the hardest thing to let go of, and do you actually miss it?

All my pets.

I grew up with two German shepherds. As an adult, I had two keeshonds and a bloodhound. Over the years, there were also seven cats. Every time one of them died, it felt like a small piece of me left with them.

Saying goodbye to any of them was like losing a family member, but the last two were especially hard. The bloodhound and the keeshond came with us when we moved from New Hampshire to Florida. The bloodhound was old, and I knew it was time. I made the appointment, and the night before, I slept on the floor beside him. When I woke up, I pet his head, and he took his last breath in my arms. Then he was gone.

The keeshond came next. My wife and I brought her to the vet for the same reason—it was time. She was put down while we held her, surrounded by the people who loved her most.

I like to believe their passing was gentle, that they felt safe and cared for until the very end. And maybe, someday, I’ll see them again.