Charlie and Me

By Gerald Kamens

Charlie was nearly blind. His heart couldn’t take any more exertion, so we put him down.

I’m dying of a rare cancer. No cure.

“I know a woman with a brain tumor,” Liz says, driving home from the vet. “Inoperable. Her cat got something very similar. After her cat died, the woman’s tumor disappeared. Maybe Charlie sacrificed himself to take on your sickness.” She bursts into tears. I feel helpless to ease her anguish.

At home, I just hold on to her, pondering the many bargains we’re forced to make every day, just to get through our lives on this earth.