My furry soul mate, Aeon and I were meant to be together, even before she was born. When my cousin’s dog was pregnant, my psychiatrist suggested I get a dog to baby, and my (now ex) husband said fine – as long as the dog was a girl.

Aeon was the runt in a litter of seven and the only girl. She got me through so much! Living alone for the first time at 40, depression, panic and chronic pain. I was diagnosed with one thing after the other, eventually becoming disabled from it all.

Aeon made everything better! She was smart as a whip! When she wanted something, she sneezed to “talk to me”. If it was past what she thought was our bedtime, she would sit at the end of the hall, sneezing at me to come to bed. That’s how she told me she needed to go outside or that her bowls were empty. Sneezing was how she told me what she wanted or needed. I even lost arguments to her!

Aeon had her own side of a queen-sized bed! She would tuck herself into my bed or ask me to lift the covers so she could be under them with me. She would run errands with me, getting in the driver’s seat while I was inside. I explained to her every time that she didn’t have a driver’s license – but she never did get one!

It’s been seven months since I had to euthanize Aeon. While I’ve moved forward with my grief, there isn’t a day I don’t think of her. Sometimes, the grief is still intense. She was “my favorite Hello, and my hardest Goodbye” in my 48 years.

I love you my Baby Girl, my Aeon.