Simba Read online

over.

  I stop suddenly because the daughter leads me away. We enter a room and I see a male human in white. The daughter picks me up and I am placed on a table. It’s cold on my paws. I sit anyway. The male speaks to the mother and daughter.

  "What is his name?"

  "Simba, Dr. Luckas," speaks the daughter.

  I sniff the man's hands as he shines a light into my eyes. He speaks to me.

  "Hello Simba. I hope we can figure out what's wrong with you boy. Okay?"

  He looks at me and I lick his hand. He is friendly. I think he is trying to help me, but why? The humans converse and I suddenly feel something inside me pulling. I see shadows around me and I whimper. The humans do not take notice to me and I feel the pulling again and suddenly a liquid flies out of my mouth.

  "Simba!" the daughter speaks and runs to my side.

  I feel her hands touch my back softly and I look up at her.

  "Okay little fellow," the man speaks to me, " let's look at you."

  He opens my mouth and I feel the heat of that light inside my mouth. The man releases me and he looks at me very quietly. He walks out of the room and the mother and the daughter stare at each other with odd expressions. The man returns with a woman dressed almost similarly like him and they pick me up and bring me to another room. I do not know what is happening, but they give me a treat and I feel sleep taking over me. The last thoughts I hold, before my eyes close, are of the smell of death, and the simple fact that the smell is getting stronger.

  When I awaken I hear many noises and smell many scents. I trot through a door and see a huge animal. He stamps his hoof and I realize it’s a horse. I trot to another side of this wilderness I seem to be in and find chickens, cats, and other dogs as well. I search for human scents and find a man feeding cows. I snort. Cows are dumb in my opinion but I need to investigate where I am. I nudge the man and whimper. He looks down at me and smiles.

  "Well hello sleepy head. Are you hungry?"

  I think of the words he speaks and try to recall any similarities to the speech of the daughter and the mother.

  Hungry, I think, I know that word....it is associated with food. I do want food, but I want the daughter. Where is the daughter?

  I whimper more and nudge the man's leg. He sets a silver object down on the ground then kneels and pets me. He smiles. He has light skin, reminds me of peaches. I tried them with the daughter once. I sit on my haunches and look up at him. He seems nice, but an odd look is in his eyes. Almost like he is holding a secret.

  "Well, boy," he speaks to me, "I hope you like it here...its the best we can do for you my friend."

  I whimper to him. I don't understand his language, but the tone he uses worries me. Almost as if he is being sympathetic to me. I stand and walk around him. I feel the wind ruffle my fur and I pick up a scent.

  Daughter, I think, It’s daughter, she's here.

  I run around and see her coming out of the box with eyes as legs. I begin calling out to her in my language as I run as fast as I can to her side. I jump exuberantly around her and I know my tail friend must be madly crazed with emotion. She smiles and kneels down and embraces me. Her smell is wonderful. Like flowers from a memory. She releases me and speaks to me with her eyes. I sit on my haunches and see the same look in her eyes like that strange man. A secret. They are holding a secret. But what can it be?

  "I miss you so much, Simba," speaks the girl while she runs her hands over my fur.

  I know that tone. Sadness follows that kind of tone. But what sadness? I don't like sadness so I try to cheer the daughter up and nudge her cheek with my nose.

  "Ack! Cold nose you silly dog!"

  She stands and steps forward challenging me. I love this game. I dance in front of her then run off. I hear her running after me. I go faster and I hear her laughing. I like that sound. Humans sound so happy when they laugh. I wish I could laugh sometimes. I stop and face her barking at her. She laughs again and then the mother appears talking to the man. I can hear them as the daughter pets me.

  "How is he adjusting, Jack?"

  "Well, the sedatives he's been getting for the pain has kept him kind of sluggish. He sleeps most of the time. He's shed some more, but he seems to be hanging in there."

  "You think he will get better?"

  "I doubt it. I think you should really consider putting him down Lauren."

  "I know...but it’s hard. I haven't told Robin yet."

  "You should...the dog has stomach cancer. He's her best friend. She should know."

  "He's more than a friend, he's a part of the family. It will crush her."

  "She needs to know."

  "I know."

  I feel the daughter rest on the ground next to me and I rest my head on her stomach looking at the mother and the man speaking. I watch the mother shake the man's hand and then walk over to the box with eyes as legs. She waves to the man then I hear her yell for the daughter to come. The daughter sits up and looks at me sadly. I see water drop from her eyes and sniff them. She embraces me and then stands. She walks towards the box with eyes as legs and gets in. I paw the outside of this huge creature and whimper. She does not look down at me. The creature moves away and I see her leave me here. I am confused. I feel hurt. I hear the man come up behind me and pet me softly.

  "Come on boy. Let's give you some food then some medicine."

  I look up at the man and whimper sadly. I see that look of sympathy in his eyes and he picks me up and carries me to the house and lays me in a small collection of blankets. They feel so soft. I decide not to get up. I feel somewhat tired from all that running. I wonder why. I watch the man busy himself. I sniff the air and smell meat. I try to get up but I feel some pain in my legs and stay put. I whimper to him.

  "Almost done, Simba. Hold on boy."

  I remain quiet and rest my head between my paws. I smell it. Death. It’s so strange because I know it is not from him. I sit and think to myself why I feel this way. Why do I smell death so much? The man sets a bowl in front of me and he puts some small round balls into it.

  "Some nice dog food with a little bit of medicine to help you sleep without pain my friend."

  I look up at the man and then at my food and eat it slowly. I watch the man go back outside. I guess it’s to finish feeding those dumb cows. I finish my food and then curl up on the blankets and close my eyes. I feel so tired. So very tired. I take a deep breath and smell death again. I take another deep breath and feel myself become so light. I hear a sound. A soft sound of wings. I think I am asleep but I see a brightness around me. I smell death and feel a pair of human hands embrace me tenderly. I see a face. A human face. I am being held in such warmth. It is very beautiful. I see this human. He stands tall with me in his arms, but he has wings. A human with wings? How strange. He smiles at me.

  "Hello Simba."

  "Hello."

  Oh my goodness! I can speak! Like him! How is this possible?

  "Don't worry Simba. Everything is okay."

  I think I am smiling at this human. Can dogs smile? He carries me to a pool of water and sets me down. I look into the water and see a man look back at me. Suddenly I recognize that reflection as myself. It is my soul. I suddenly remember things I never thought I would. Past lives, past loves. The daughter. I stand up and look at the angel in front of me and feel tears upon my face. I know what tears are now. I now why the daughter cried. She cried for me. The smell of death. That was my scent.

  "I am dead?"

  The angel nods to me and takes my hand.

  "Are you ready my friend," he asks me as I lower my head.

  "Yes. I am ready to proceed. Just one favor."

  "Yes."

  "Can I see her? Before I go."

  "I think it is okay."

  The angel takes me into the pool of water and I am standing in the daughter's room. She is crying as the mother speaks to her.

  "I'm sorry Robin. Simba is gone. Are you okay honey?"

  "Yeah...just wish you told m
e sooner."

  The mother embraces her and I see her tears flow so freely.

  "I want to be alone for awhile, okay mom?"

  "Sure sweety."

  Lauren, the mother, kisses Robin on her forehead and walks out of the room. I watch Robin go to her desk and open a book. I watch her write something. I look over her shoulder as she cries over her writing.

  I just found out Simba was really sick. He had stomach cancer and passed away not too long ago. I miss him. I miss him so much. He was my best friend...no...he is my best friend. He always will be. Death isn't the end. It is only the beginning. I know he will watch over me whenever he can...and I know he will never forget me. I will cry a lot, but I know he isn't in pain anymore...and I know he is doing well. I love you my friend, wherever you may be. Stay good Simba...and save me a slice of meat.

  I watch Robin put the book away and she smiles softly between tears. I can feel myself cry too, but I know she will do well in life.

  "It’s time to go," speaks the angel.

  "I know. I am ready."

  The angel takes my hand and I travel on...beyond life and death.

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  Cover and Interior Illustrations Copyright 2012

  by Astra Bagdziunas

  https://www.astralaesthetic.com/