Hamster
Our dog did not live long enough to celebrate his first birthday. But the seven months that he lived were months of joy. He had fallen sick on several occasions before and always came back stronger, but this time it must have been too much to bear. After two days of dehydration, and extreme blood loss, he died on January 10, 2016. We believe he had an infection that eventually led to his untimely death. He was like no other dog and I doubt I will ever see a dog that lived like he did.
His name was Hammy, shortened from the word ‘Hamster’, because he looked like one. He was born in April 2015, and he came to us on May 30. He could hardly stand, on his weak little paws. The night he came home, he walked around the house like he owned it. That’s why I called him, ‘Prince Ham’ He preferred being outside, teetering around on his pink paws, chasing butterflies.
When we got back from school, he would stop whatever he was doing just to greet us, as if he hadn’t seen us for ages. He loved eating everything and anything. He would jump on our bed, run off with our clothes, and roll in piles of dried leaves. During my exams, he used to sit at my feet until I finished studying. He loved chasing pigeons, and watching children play.
He took life as a challenge, and faced the problems it threw at him with a positive outlook. He was the only living being who had seen me dance and play my guitar. He loved cuddling on my sweater and my mother’s sari. Every time the door bell rang, he used to run to the door. Now, the ring of the bell makes me cry.
I do not mind wearing the socks he damaged. The house is so quiet and lifeless and we miss his bark. The litany of lost things is endless.
He taught me there’s good in this world; you just have to learn to see it; He would implicitly trust people, no questions asked; He taught me love is stronger than any force on the earth. He taught me not to take life too seriously and to take the good things and make memories out of them; forget the bad things and learn from them.
The last three days of his life were the worst. He suffered so much. Looking at his almost lifeless body, I did everything he liked to elicit a response, but no, he was too far gone.
I cried for hours, and I’m crying as I’m writing this. I’m glad his suffering is over, because it was too much for his small frame to handle. I know he’s in heaven, because all dogs go to heaven.
Dear Hammy ,
Now that you’re in heaven, I’m glad you don’t have to suffer. I hope you find cats to chase, beans to eat, people to play with and sweaters to chew. I miss you, and I’m glad you were in our lives. Thank you for the memories.
I love you, forever.
Keren.
"Every time the door bell rang, he used to run to the door. Now, the ring of the bell makes me cry. I do not mind wearing the socks he damaged. The house is so quiet and lifeless and we miss his bark. The litany of lost things is endless."
A/N: I wrote this early last year, and although it isn't my best piece of writing, the feelings are still strong. This was featured in The Hindu in School, and you can see it
here.
