The Skeletal Flaming Pit Bull of Fuck You That’s My Pillow is gone. The state that I found him in last night was too much, even for his bravado. The manner of his death finally caught up with him, and it would be cruel to force him to remain in that last moment forever.
I cradled him and pulled the loose collar over his head. He tried to move his head to block me, but the movement caused the flames to intensify along with his pain. His tail never stopped wagging, though.
I kissed him and tried to smother the flames with my wings the best I could. But where I did not cover, the flames jetted out. He was suffering again the moments of his death, but now those moments will not cease. It’s time to let him go.
I did not take him to the Boneyard. (I think he has burned enough, don’t you.) There are other gateways for spirits to pass through, and I took him to [one particular one]. I asked the guardian of that place for permission to release him there, knowing that it will be the end of the dog’s manifestation. But it will also be the beginning to a new existence if he wants.
The guardian granted me permission and told me to say any final farewells because once I release the dog, he will never come back to me.
His tail never stopped wagging even as the flames cooked the fat under his skin.
I released him to [that place]. The flames were the first to cease. As his ghost body descended, his form surprisingly became whole again before fading.
His tail was the last to release. It wagged itself out of substance.
I thanked the guardian and left.
Back in the sideways manifestation of my home, I was greeted by the shadow pack the pit bull had accumulated. They knew, and silently gathered around me in a tight cluster before lying down with me as I sat on the ground. I don’t know if they are going to stick around now that the pit bull is gone. But tonight, I was not alone. We held vigil for each other and for the one that is finally at rest.