Short Story

On The Other Side

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Written for The New, Unofficial, On-Line Writer’s Guild.
The three prompts this week from TN at OLWG #393 are
1) night will end; 2) look, over there, did you see that?; and
3) sittin’ on a rainbow. This is my story, based on true events
experienced by my son and his wife. Believe or not; it’s all true.

David and Jess always knew they’d adopt a dog someday – not one from a pet shop but a rescue in desperate need of a loving home. When they saw Lily, all chocolatey-brown with big doe eyes, they knew she was the one. She was the sweetest, most gentle dog ever, despite having been abused, terribly traumatized and frightened most of her young life.

Animals instinctively know when someone is trying to help them. Lily knew she could trust David and Jess. She felt safe, happy to be living in a loving and kind home. She loved Jess and David as much as they loved her.

After four years together, Jess noticed that Lily had developed a little raspy cough and was having some trouble eating; this worried her. A trip to the vet confirmed Jess’ worst fears; Lily was diagnosed with a rare case of tongue cancer …. and it was spreading.

Malignant. Metastasized. Inoperable.

“How much time?”

“Within the year” was the grim diagnosis.

Jess and David promised each other two things: 1) they would spoil Lily rotten and smother her with love, and 2) they would never let her suffer or die alone.

The veterinarian decided the best treatment would be medication and radiation therapy. It wasn’t a cure but Lily responded well; her cough stopped and she was able to eat once again. She was a happy girl.

One of Lily’s favorite pastimes was napping in the upstairs TV room with the sun streaming in the large bay window. Upon waking, she would walk to the top of the stairs, stretch from nose to tail and shake her head, dog tags jangling like Christmas bells. When baby Colette came along, Lily was so good with her; David and Jess never worried when Lily was near the baby.

Eight months later Lily started getting showing signs that she wasn’t feeling well; poor girl was worse than before. Within days she declined rapidly; she was listless and wouldn’t eat. David and Jess were shaken one morning when Lily began vomiting blood; they knew the end was rapidly approaching for their beloved girl and they weren’t ready. It happened so fast and too soon. Is anyone ever ready?

Jess’ parents came over to stay with the baby. David wrapped Lily in a blanket and carried her to the car; she curled up on the back seat, her head resting on Jess’ lap. Did Lily know she was dying? One thing is certain; she knew she was loved very much.

At the animal hospital, David and Jess held Lily and comforted her as the vet gave her a sedative via injection. They whispered soothing words and kissed her head. Lily was so very brave, never making a sound. She relaxed in their arms, raising her head at times to lick their faces. Another injection was administered; Lily passed away peacefully after just a few seconds. David and Jess were heartbroken; they found a little comfort in the fact that they had kept their promise.

Jess and David took the next day off from work to clean up, scrubbing Lily’s blood from the carpet and washing her bedding to put into storage. That first night without Lily was impossibly quiet and empty. While folding laundry, Jess heard a noise upstairs. She figured it had to be Colette but one glance at the baby monitor confirmed their little girl was sleeping soundly.

Suddenly Jess had a startling realization when she recognized the noise: jangling dog tags like Christmas bells! Emotionally drained and physically exhausted, Jess knew it had to be her imagination …. until she looked up at David. He stood still as a statue, the laundry he was folding dangling from his hands. All the color had drained from his face and his gaze was locked on the top of the staircase.

“Oh my God! You heard that, didn’t you?” Jess whispered in questioning disbelief.

Slowly, David nodded yes, saying “Yes …. that was Lily!”

Logically they knew it couldn’t possibly be Lily but they both heard the same sound. Together they went upstairs and looked around. Nothing out of the ordinary. Then they checked Lily’s leash and collar; of course they were right where they put them the night before. Everything was as it should be.

But in their hearts they knew …. Lily had come back one last time to say goodbye and let them know she was ok on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.

Lily © NAR

NAR©2024
#OLWG

This is “Rainbow Connection” by Billie Eilish

OLWG# 393- Ted and Maria, A Love Story

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for Nancy (The Sicilian Storyteller), The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk, and The Rhythm Section and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.

45 thoughts on “On The Other Side”

  4. I can so relate Nancy. I wrote a post the day we lost Maggie and cannot read it, it’s too raw. We love our pets so much, we want to protect them and do the best for them. Such decisions are heartbreaking, but we have to love them enough to let them go. I dreamt of Maggie coming home and wrote a poem. It was so real, and she was right there, but I knew she wasn’t. Lovely post and my heart goes out to Jess and David.

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    1. Thank you for your beautiful thoughts, Di. Lily passed away four years ago and Jess is still not ready to read my story. No animal deserves to be abused and treated so miserably. Lily was especially sweet and loving and so forgiving of the awful treatment she received. I’m so glad David and Jess were able to share their lives, their home and their love with her for as long as they did. Their time together was a blessing. 🤎

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      1. IMO our pets are all precious blessings. They give so much in the time they share with us. Kizzy was mistreated and abandoned, tied up at a dogs breeder’s gate when she was about 5. I like to think she had 5 good years with me and I have wonderful memories of her only barking at Hubby, and on a walk in the woods being so hot she sat down in the stream and wouldn’t budge. We love them and the pain of loss lingers ❤❤❤

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  7. Their deaths go down hard, don’t they? You learn how to do it, but it never gets easy. Sounds like your kids loved that dog & gave her the peace she’d never had before.

    Yes, spoil ’em rotten with love while you have ’em (stroking her elderly cat’s side-belly, rewarded with bubbling purrs)!

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    1. Oh, they really do, Liz. We may learn how to go through the motions but we never really learn how to handle these very sad times. Our sweet beasties ask so little of us and in turn they love us like crazy. It’s so lovely to see their big goofy smiles and tails a-wagging simply at the mention of their name. How they love us!

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  8. I’m glad that they found Lily and gave her a loving home, so much love and care, and so many great memories before she crossed over the rainbow bridge. I’m glad that she knew that she was very much loved after all the pain that she had gone through. Lily looks beautiful. This one really touched my heart. It reminded me of the time I lost my beloved Rocky. He was 9 and we weren’t ready for the void he left us with. We still heard him and felt his presence long after he had gone too. It’s been 9 years and I still miss him.

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  11. When our dog, Kona, passed it took years to find/be found by our current dog (also Lilly). We rescued her about six months ago. A border collie. A real sweetheart. Maybe it’s something about the name?

    Wonderful read. Thanks.

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    1. Could be, TN. They sure do have a way of finding us, don’t they!

      There was no way my son and DIL could be certain Lily had been abused before they brought her into their home; she didn’t have any visible marks or scars on her but she was very timid and easily frightened, especially of feet. If my son suddenly crossed his legs or stretched out his legs, Lily would hide behind the sofa. It’s an awful thought but she was probably kicked around by the people she previously lived with. She was the sweetest dog, an angel; how anyone could do something like that is incomprehensible.

      Thank you for sharing your thoughts and for your kind comments.

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  15. Very beautiful, and very difficult to read, Nancy. Tough one to get through. It especially hits home because I had to carry my mom’s dog in a blanket when she took a bad turn too. 😢
    Lily looks like a magnificent girl. RIP 🙏

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    1. Going into this, Kevin, I knew I was taking a chance. So many of us have lived through this heartbreaking scenario. That’s what writing is all about for me …. connecting with people and having them feel the emotions in my stories.

      Lily was such a sweet girl and she is sorely missed. Sorry to hear about your mom’s dog, Kevin. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. ♡

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