Warning: this depicts someone grieving their pet. This gets sad.

(KAI POV)

The same year that I met Oliver, he had gotten a pet bunny that he named Buddy.

Olly had always wanted a pet all his childhood, but his family just never got around to it since he was the only one who wanted a pet.

Now it’s years later- Oliver and I are parents to a wonderful boy we adopted, named Danny.

Danny is six right now

and Buddy passed away today.

Yes.

Buddy is gone.

It happened this morning.

I was sitting down to watch cartoons with our son when I heard my husband yell in distress.

Oliver barely ever raises his voice, so hearing him scream scared me.

I scooped up Danny in my arms (unsure if we needed to evacuate) and ran to where I heard Oliver.

I come in and he’s just kneeling by Buddy’s cage, tears streaming down his face.

I immediately know what’s happened.

I murmur, “Oh no…”

Danny, confused, asks, “Daddy? What happened?”

He whispers, “I thought he was just sleeping in… but I checked …”

I can tell Oliver is trying not to “make a scene”, so I make a split-second choice.

Keeping my voice calm, I tell our son, “Uh, I’ll explain later. For now, how about you go back and watch the cartoons? Finish your breakfast, eh?”

I put Danny down and he walks away, youthfully obvious.

I’ll think of a way to properly tell a six year old about losing a pet later.

For the moment, my husband needs my full attention.

(OLIVER POV, present tense)

Buddy has lived 13 years, which is a lot, even for an indoor-pet rabbit.

I did my best to care of him.

I knew he was getting old but still

To walk up to his cage like I have for the past decade…

And to realize that he’s ….

Trying to not cry too loud, I move away from his cage and once my back is to the room’s wall, I pull my knees to my chest and bury my face there.

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I can faintly process my wife telling our son to go back on the couch for a bit and she’ll explain what’s happening later.

I can feel my tears making my clothes damp but for once, I don’t care.

A part of me feels like I’m being selfish and unfair to Kai and Danny right now but I don’t think I can help it.

I know I need to handle this like an adult but what adult would be calm when their friend of a decade just passed away right here in this house?

A decade is a decade ….

Waking up every morning to feed Buddy and see him look at me excited.

All those late nights studying, hearing Buddy shuffling near me, imaging him cheering me on.

All those times I played with Buddy while I phone-called Kai, imaging him teasing me for falling in love.

… Buddy in a pet carrier at Kai and I’s wedding.

… Buddy being so confused when we came home with Danny.

And the way Danny couldn’t say “Buddy” or “Bunny” right so it kept coming out like “Buff-wee”.

None of that will ever happen again.

Buddy won’t flip his ears or jump around or nuzzle me.

I begin sobbing, unable to be quiet anymore.

I feel Kai sit next to me. She just wraps her arms around me.

She whispers, “Danny’s in the other room. Let it out. It’s okay. It’s okay to cry.”

I wrap my arms around my wife, and I hold her tight, almost scared she and Danny may leave me too, unexpectedly.

I wish Danny was in here so I could hold him too, but I also know he doesn’t need to see all this. He’s only six after all.

A few minuets later, after I’ve stopped sobbing as loudly, I manage a quiet: “I’m glad.”

Kai looks at me, not having heard me I guess. “What?”

“I’m… glad… that Buddy” I raise my voice to my normal volume. “… got to be around for when I met you … and Danny.”

Kai smiles at me but I can tell she’s sad too.

“Yeah… Buddy took some time to warm up to me but he was a real sweetheart once he did.”

Did …

I look down as I add, “And Buddy met Lucas… during our wedding week … and I’d show him on FaceTime.” My voice shakes. “and Alex met Buddy a bunch... And he met Blake.”

Kai nods thoughtfully. “Yeah.”

I manage a genuine smile, but it’s small. “He got to see everyone that’s most important to me before he left.”

“You’re right.”

Kai tears up, which is unusual for her.

“I’m glad too.”

I sniffle, and Kai hands me a tissue. “I’m sure he was so happy to know you- and all of us.”

“Yeah… I’m… glad” I try to hold in tears. “But it still hurts.”

“I know.” Kai pulls me close and I cry some more as she rubs my back.

. . .

I quiet down again, then Kai eventually says:

“You know, when all the fish Bella and I took care of died… my dad once told me… all animals and pets go to a place. It’s their own special spot in heaven.”

I move back and look at Kai. “They do?”

“Yes. It’s called the Rainbow Bridge. On one side, the animals rest and play and thrive together. On the other side is where the people live. But, when an animal has bonded with a human, they take that feeling and it helps them across the bridge. One day when you’re in Heaven, Buddy will be right there to greet you.”

Will he?

I can almost see it.

I smile. “That’s beautiful.”

I laugh weakly. “And heart-wrenching.”

“Yeah.” I look down. “You’re gonna make me cry again.”

“That’s fine. I’m crying too.”

> > >

I feel too shaken up to move, so I just sit with Danny while Kai digs a small grave in our back yard for Buddy.

Danny is in my lap. Kai explained to him in a gentle way that animals die too (he already knows what death is)

My son asks, “Dad? What is Mom doing?”

“When someone dies,” Kai replies a bit slowly since she’s putting most her strength into digging. “We put them in a special little… dug-up spot that we call a grave.”

Curious, Danny asks “Why?”

I try to clarify his question. “Why do we call it a grave?”

“No, why do we put them there?”

That’s a good question …

How have I never asked that?

“I don’t know, actually.”

“Lots of reasons, really.” Kai finishes digging up the dirt. “But the most important one is respect.”

“Respect?”

“Yes.” Kai sets the shovel down. “We respect Buddy and that’s why we’re putting him in here.”

Kai wrapped Buddy’s body in a spare cloth we have. She’s using another cloth to hold him since she doesn’t wanna directly hold him.

She looks at me. “Oliver, do you want to say something before I put him to rest?”

Oh, curse-word…

I don’t wanna cry again.

But I don’t wanna say nothing.

“Well… I’ve never been great with words but umm … I’m glad I knew you, Buddy. You were a good friend. And I’ll miss you.”

There’s a moment of quiet.

Danny babbles, “See? You’re good with words, Dad.”

I unintentionally let out a small laugh, though it’s more like a weird pant.

“Thankyou for that, Son.”

Kai looks at me, and I nod.

Turning to the bundle of blankets, Kai says, “Good bye Buddy.”

Danny repeats, “Goo-bye … Buh… Dee.”

I whisper, “Goodbye, my friend.” I try not to cry on Danny’s head.

Kai places Buddy in the hole, and puts the dirt over him.

Earlier, while talking with Danny, Kai picked up a small rock and used paint to write Buddy’s name in it.

She places the rock on top of the spot, concluding Buddy’s funeral.