Avery D.

Piper

9:37 AM, Sunday, December 27, 2015

I heard my cat, Piper, moaning. I figured she was hungry and out of food. Then I heard a soft voice say, “She probably just fell.” That for sure got my attention. I jumped out of bed and rushed over to where I heard the crying. My parents, my sister Gabby, and my brother Thomas were all surrounding a corner of the bedroom. My dad turned around.

“What happened?” I mumbled, wondering if I already knew what had happened. “Piper hasn’t been moving or breathing much,” he explained. “Mom and I are going to take her to the vet.” I felt a lump form in my throat. I tried holding back all the tears forming in my eyes until I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I stood there silent, crying and staring at my cat for the longest 5 seconds of my life. I saw Gabby through the corner of my blurry eye gesture with a hand patting the floor telling me to sit down. I slowly sat down and gave her a weak, gentle stroke across her back. I worried this would be the last time I’d pet her. Mom got up to blow her nose while Dad went to go grab a short rectangular box and some soft blankets for Piper. When Mom and Dad returned, they cautiously and carefully placed Piper in the box and took her to the vet.

11:28 AM Sunday, December 27, 2015

When I heard the driveway alarm go off, I managed to drag myself off the couch and make my way toward the door. I looked through the window and saw my parents walking to the door with an empty box and some blankets.

Piper was dead...