How to Save a Life

Death comes to all those who wish for it; death comes to all those that dread it. No matter what, death comes to you. Death is inevitable. 

The good, the bad, the sinners, the saints- we all die. 

And lately, I've come to realise that, you know, there is nothing to fear, in death, if you've lived your life like it meant something, you know?

Yesterday, I went down with my friend, wanting to talk to her and chat her up a bit since she wasn't feeling so good, and frankly, neither was I. 

So, when I went down, right below my building, I noticed that the watchman wasn't there. 

When I went outside, I saw the watchman picking up a dog, and then placing him in from t of the building.

That dog, a bitch rather, had been living around my building for more than seven years now. 

My complex is home to a lot of strays, and this particular bitch- Rani, they had named her- was always, always below my building. 

She would come walk with me when I would take my own dog, Neo, down for a walk. She was the most harmless dog ever, the friendliest.

Everyone said that she had been like that for a few days now- she couldn't move, she kept walking in circles. 

We didn't know what it was- so my mother called Neo's vet, we tried calling a few agencies- no one was open, though.

Finally, we remembered that there was a government animal shelter nearby that was ought to be open. We took her there in my mother's car.

She kept shivering and trying to get up- and then she finally gave up and rested her head on my lap. 

When we went there, they said that the do for had gone home for he day, but they could take her in and make sure the do for takes a look at her first thing in the morning. 

So, we left her there- at 8.30, they tagged her, her tag was 81 Red. And then we left. 

I prayed, oh god, did I pray, that she'd be fine. 

I kept thinking, "I helped save a life today."

The night passed and I felt sick, so I did t go to school this morning. I kept thinking about what I'd do if this happened to Neo.

At about 11 today, my mother called me up. She asked me if I had done my homework. I told her I was still doing it. She asked me if my grandmother was home. I said no, she has gone down to the bank. She said, "I have bad news." 

My heart dropped as I hoped it wasn't what I thought it was.

"She died," she said. 

"She died," I repeated to myself, and the tears started streaming down my face.

I felt like it was my fault, like I could have done something more. But then, I did everything I could. 

And I just, realised how brutal life can be. Or rather, death. Or, you know, both. 

I had thought I helped save a life. 

I couldn't save her.