Like the mist upon our breath

 Death,
It’s the absence, it’s the presence, it’s the witness that you had to your life.
It’ the life you witnessed as well.
I was thirty seven when we got Echo.  She was about the size and weight of a bottle of water.  From the beginning, she had to have it her way or she would make life miserable.  She was very determined. 
And then at the end,  she wasn’t there anymore.  I foolishly thought I was going to be okay with it, in that we had about a month to prepare, and I had actually planned to take her to the vet weeks ago.
You are never prepared.  I thought I knew that but I didn’t.  Or, I did but it doesn’t matter.