The Presence

Suddenly, Gem felt a presence, like nothing he'd ever known before. "Who's there"?, he said

"I'm the angel Goddess Athena. I've come to help you get your affairs in order. You're leaving soon".

Even as sick as he was feeling, Gem couldn't help but notice Athena's beauty. She wore a tuxedo like himself, her paws small and delicate, legs lovely as a ballerina, and a beautiful light was shining all around her. "What do you mean I'm leaving"?, he said. "I'm much too sick to go anywhere."

"Oh no! Please go away, I want to stay here. I'll miss my Mom and my family.......and my home".

"Oh, you poor dear. You don't want to be sick anymore do you? And besides that, you don't even have to miss them. You can visit anytime you want as long as your papers are in order, so let's get to work".

"Whatever you have that proves you have a name, and a home, and even more important, a family that loves you. Otherwise, you can't get past some of the gates, or be allowed visitation. Certainly you must have some photos don't you"?

Suddenly, Gem recalled a story he'd seen posted on the walls of the shelter. It had been three years since he'd seen it, but he still remembered part of it vividly:

"Only those animals who were with their people could pass over Rainbow Bridge.

An elderly animal, with no place else to turn, looked towards the fields before The Bridge and saw a group of other animals like himself, also elderly and infirm.

They weren't playing, but rather simply lying on the green grass, forlornly staring out at the pathway leading to The Bridge.

And so, he took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting.

That poor animal was a rescue. He never made it out of the rescue and passed on with only the love of his rescuer to comfort him as he left his earthly existence.

Because he had no family to give his love to, he had no one to escort him across The Bridge."

Back in those days Gem had spent a lot of time worrying that he too would be homeless when his time came, and unable to cross the bridge. He was relieved now, and he knew his Mom had photos of him everywhere. It would be easy to prove he'd been loved.

"Not yet. He will spend the next two days with his family. The woman knows it in her heart that his time is over, and she has prayed for just one last weekend".

"But sir, if you don't mind my saying, he can't even walk anymore. He'll just be a burden to her".

"It's not your business Athena. The woman can sense his every need, and you'll stay and watch over them. Come Monday, not long after the stroke of midnight, the boy will leave his body and you'll show him the way".

The weekend was pleasant for Gem, except he hated that his Mother was so sad. She barely slept, not wanting to miss a single one of her boy's last moments. She carried him in his favorite bed, placing it everywhere she went. Somehow, she just knew everything he needed, and he was happy to give her this last weekend after all the love she'd given him. Mostly they relaxed on the couch, just watching the TV like they used to, and just enjoying being together. He was surrounded with the love of his family, and he lavished in it, content that his final memories would be happy ones.

On Monday, he would take his last ride to work with his Mom. He never did like riding in the tin box that she called a car. He didn't feel good at all that day and just waited for the time when he could close his eyes and go. On the ride home in the car that night Athena appeared again.

But he could hear his Mother's voice, speaking to him constantly as she drove, just begging him to hold on, her voice like an echo.......far away......

"No, I'll be going on ahead. You have to make the journey through the passage alone. I'll be watching you from above, and the High Priestess will guide you. Just follow the stars, and you'll be OK".

"Gem, go quickly now and leave your paw print on her heart.....so she'll never forget.