Gracie's Wish.

Now in the hallway the bed with the blue blanket lies empty, there’s a freshly washed pink collar draining over the sink and a red bowl has been put away up on the shelf.

The house is so quiet.

I have died.

Your heart is broken.

As I move further from you, and as the hurt begins to dull, please remember this.

Keep courage in your heart, human, for my sake, because we will meet again. Somewhere, on a dusty track, or on a sodden hill above a wretched farmhouse, we will meet again.

You won’t recognize me as the one you once knew, at least not until you are brave enough to look into my eyes and then you’ll see that I am there again. There, just as I was when you first found me. There, desperate, clinging to the hope that one day you’d come for me and take me home.

Keep courage, don’t ignore me or look away, step towards me and don’t fear.

I found Gracie tied to a wretched shelter, starving and sick, having been left to die.

After her rescue and despite being in chronic kidney failure and with Hypothyroidism and a rare autoimmune condition, Gracie soon picked up once she got used to her new home. She got all the love she needed and she finally found the happiness she deserved.

Here she is sharing the basket with her younger sister Bracken who was adopted as a puppy and escaped early.

She pretty soon found out that the kitchen was a good place to hang out.

Although she only saw two further summers after her rescue, they were happy ones.

Rest in peace Gracie. You remind us that we can make a difference, if we have the courage to try.