What happens after death?

My dear Bijou
by Mary, Victoria
Librarian, Aged 53

Bijou was a beautiful male tabby who shared my life for 14 years. He died some years ago now of kidney failure.
I had him 'put to sleep' at the vets,but asked if I could take him home with me as I wanted to spend time with him before I buried him. Some thought it odd that I wanted to do this.

Thankfully the vet understood entirely.
I laid him on a lovely piece of Indian silk, on a small table in my bedroom. I lit candles and put flowers around him and I spent time sitting with him over the next day.This was my first intimate experience with the death of a loved one and it's one that I cherish,as it really helped me deal with his death.

What happens to us after death still remains a great mystery to me, but I was certainly aware as I sat there with him, that the essence of Bijou no longer remained. There was now a carcass, which the fleas began abandoning, as he was no longer a good 'home'. Through this experience I became aware of the matter of factness of nature, but also the mystery of consciousness. I buried Bij the next day, thanking him for the gifts he had given me both in his living and his dying.

Back to story list