28 People Describe The Most Bittersweet Moment They Have Ever Experienced

Adopting a decrepit senior dog with one hot mess of a body. He was cherished and adored by myself and daughter. My daughter was his main squeeze. He had health problems galore but he always persevered, and for a brief moment he got to BE a dog.

One year ago we helped him cross the rainbow bridge. My daughter made the decision that she would be there, she held his snout in her hands and kissed him the entire time. She was so brave, because of him.

Sitting in the hospital room, mom was about ready to pass away from cancer, everything was shutting down internally. The date was my parents' 40th wedding anniversary. The last thing dad said to her was 'Thank you for 40 wonderful years.'

Recently had one last sleepover with my childhood friend before he passed from leukemia. It was just like being kids again.

He couldn’t do much at the point he’d reached, but we listened to music, watched Luca (which he hadn’t yet seen), and just talked about life. And of course we stayed up way past bedtime haha

Waking up from a suicide attempt.

Bitter because I woke up, sweet because I woke up.

About ten years ago just before she died of lung cancer, my mom called me by my childhood nickname, told me she loved me and then fell asleep. That was the last thing she ever said to me. I was 35 when she died and she hadn't called me that nickname in maybe 30 years. I still tear up thinking about it.

My fiance's funeral. It was literally the first time I got to meet his mom. And she was such a sweet lady. When I tried to give her back my ring because it had belonged to her mother. She refused to take it, she told me "My son chose you to give it to. And it would be rude of me to take back his choice." She probably still has no idea how much it meant to me.

I literally have no pictures or anything of him. But I still have my memories and my ring I keep in my jewelry box.

My family got a puppy when I was about 5. My freshman year of college he had to be put down. Every part of his body was failing. He couldn't stand on his own, fur falling out, infections that wouldn't go away, etc. and the vets couldn't help him no matter what they did. My mother finally made the choice to let him go peacefully rather than try to force any more treatments and hope they ease it. I opted to be the person to go back with him when the time came.

I held him and cried. But I pet him behind the ears the way he always liked and made sure he knew he had one of his humans there. There was relief in his eyes when he went. Like he understood what was happening and was okay with it. Finally able to rest.

I didn't want to let my childhood pet go. But I'm glad he didn't have to keep suffering and he didn't have to go out alone.

Oh man. I'm always a sucker for the long love.

Amidst a loooong illness in hospice and dementia that meant he recognized no one my Grampie still lit up every day when my Grammie showed up. He would turn to whoever else was in the room and say "ah, I'm just the luckiest fella in the world to have the most beautiful woman in the world to love. I love you, Dolly."

She got to be there when he passed away and she died a few months later. I think she was just waiting for him to go first.

My friend and his fiance wanted a baby and were doing IVF treatment and were down to their last chance. She got pregnant but my friend died three months in from a sudden heart attack.

So basically super bitter for six months but then his daughter was born and is healthy and beautiful.

Spending the last month of my mom's life caring for her, teamed up with my sister. We laughed, we cried, we looked at photo books, we ate lots of Mexican tater tots and coffee shakes. Of course, losing her to cancer was horrible, but it was her choice not to seek treatment, so my sister and I decided that, if she was going to go, we would give her the happiest sendoff we could. She died contentedly in her own bed, in the arms of her daughters and granddaughters.

Moving back to my own country after studying in the US for 3 years. I was sad to leave my friends, but happy to leave the country.

The last time I saw my Grandpa. He was in a coma, had been battling Parkinson’s for years. My relatives were talking to the nurse while I sat next to him, holding his hand. For a split second, he slightly opened his eyes, and softly smiled. I will never forget that, it brings so much peace but also pain.

My daughter's double amputation just after her first birthday. It was the most difficult experience of my life, especially the hours leading up to her going into surgery, and I'm too squeamish to let myself think about what the procedure actually involved. But due to a bone defect she would never have been able to walk, or run it dance or climb, unless she'd had the operation. We had to sacrifice her adorable little baby feet. We lost a little part of her that day, but she gained the ability to walk, so it was totally worth it.
If I ever feel sad about what she went through, I just look at her and the sadness goes away because I'm bursting with pride.

My first two pets were two parakeets (aka Budgies). Both passed about 5 months apart but they both said goodbye to me in a way I haven't gotten to experience with any other pet. They were never fully tame and mostly just liked to go out of their cage and spend time together on the curtains or somewhere else that they could perch.

The first to pass was eggbound and her passing was devastating but instead of being alone when she passed I was able to hold her and she rested her head on my finger and chirped once before her time came. The second lived for another 5 months and was never as bouncy as before but in the last month, for an unknown reason she became incredibly tame. Not only did she perch, she would run up to me and snuggle against me. She continued this until one evening she passed peacefully.

I still miss them to this day, but I will always appreciate the goodbyes they gave to me. Here's to you Sunny and Sky.

Breaking up with my then girlfriend because her dream of moving abroad permanently was coming true. I was happy for her but sad to see her leave

Well I may be getting deployed unexpectedly due to the current craziness in the world, so my wife and I decided to get married Saturday.

Happiest day of my life, but I'm nervous about possibly having to leave this week or next.

I let her go. Because i knew i was not the right man for her. It's been years but she still visites me in my dreams and she always smiles at me. Sometime ago i woke up with tears in my eyes. I loved her. When ever i saw her i immidiately felt good, warm inside. She is happy now i know this. And i'm still convinced i made the right decision, she found a better man. But when I think of her, sometimes..., you know... "what if..." Love hurts but i'll keep a special place in my heart, just for her :)

Holding my grandfather's hand as he passed away. It was incredibly sad to see him go, but also relieving to see that it was peaceful and that he had been released.

Watching my babies grow. Obviously I want them to grow well but if I could just pause time for a bit.

At my grandmas viewing my little cousin (2)and her dad (my uncle) walked up to see her and to say their goodbyes. As they walked away my little cousin turned to her and waved goodbye