Ella: Sam? Are you okay? You've been in your room all day.
Sam: Not really. I keep thinking I hear Max's paws on the floor.
Ella: Me too. I almost put food in his bowl this morning without thinking.
Sam: He used to wait by the door every day when we came home from school.
Ella: I know. The house feels so quiet without him barking at everything.
Sam: I keep wondering if we could have done something different at the vet.
Ella: Sam, the vet said there was nothing more we could do. It's okay to feel sad, but it's not your fault.
Sam: It just doesn't feel real yet. Twelve years is a long time.
Ella: It really is. He was basically part of our family since before I could walk.
Sam: Remember how he used to steal socks and hide them under the couch?
Ella: Every single time! Dad was so mad, but it was always funny.
Sam: I think I want to keep one of his old toys, if that's okay.
Ella: Of course it is. I already put his collar in my drawer.
Sam: We'll be okay, right? Eventually?
Ella: Eventually, yeah. It'll always hurt a little, but that's because we loved him a lot.