Sometimes, when he was demanding, I longed for a life alone. Everything changed, though, when I realised I was losing him.

The end came quickly. He looked at me with pleading eyes. I held him and made soothing noises.

Then, two last wags of his tail, and he slipped away.

Jean lives in Bath, UK. She likes to send in an her meagre efforts each month and enjoys a good yarn.