Chapter 4: Ghosts of Lives Past
It was the last weekend in January. I sat alone on the couch, leaning forward, my head in my hands, elbows resting on my knees.
I can do this, I thought. All I have to do is stand up and get started. It won’t be that hard. It won’t take that long.
I continued to sit. “s**t, I hate this!”
Just then the door opened. The dogs, who had been sitting next to me wondering what my expletive could mean, jumped down and ran to it. As they rounded the corner, I again noticed Annie looking a little stiff. I would have to check with the resident veterinarian about her.
As I was thinking that, the resident vet in question came into the room. When he saw our Christmas tree, Claudia, still fully dressed in the corner, his warm smile faltered. “Oh, you didn’t get her pu
