He was 16 and a half years old (born Nov 1996).
He had not been doing so well since the previous Tuesday (it seems he had a blockage and was straining to poop) but was more-or-less okay up until Saturday. Then he ate the rice and ground beef I specially made for him ( he hadn't been eating), but threw that up Saturday night/Sunday morning and went downhill fast from there.
I left the fan on him when I went to work Monday morning and he was weak but would get up and walk around looking for me and trying to drink but couldn't. Then later when I got home from work he was convulsing and just as I touched him and said "I'm so sorry" he died.
I had done everything I could for him......it was just his time. Thought I would have been prepared for it but you never are.
Didn't sleep very well that night. Got up the next morning, got ready for work and was able to close all the windows for the first time in a long while. Then as I was leaving I reached out to turn on the radio to keep him company...and stopped. No need to do that anymore.
Those are the things that are going to hurt. It's been a few weeks since he left me but I will always have him in my heart.
R.I.P Phelix (Nov 1996 to May 20, 2013):
To my hairy companion who has been by my side ever since I stepped foot in the USA; I will always love you:
"He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong.
The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
For nothing now can ever come to any good."
