43

The soul stood in a quiet, sun-dappled clinic that wasn't entirely real. Faint echoes of gentle barks, soft purrs, and the rustle of fur against examining tables filled the air. The shelves were lined with medical supplies, leashes, and small treats — everything a caring hand might need to mend broken bodies and soothe frightened hearts.

The Angel of Death appeared, watching the soul with a kind, knowing expression.

"You didn't just heal animals," the Angel spoke softly. "You healed the people who loved them too."

The soul's voice came out, quiet and unsure. "I tried. I really did. But there were so many I couldn't save. For every wagging tail or grateful purr, there was another I had to let go. No matter how hard I worked… it wasn't enough."

The Angel took a step closer. "You remember the losses, but they remember the hope you gave them. The pets who got to go home, healthy and happy. The owners who found comfort in knowing their beloved friends were cared for, even when goodbye was inevitable."

The soul lowered their head. "It was never just about the animals. It was about the people too. Their grief, their love, their trust. I carried it all with me."

The Angel's voice softened further. "And they carried your kindness with them. You held trembling paws and comforted worried hearts. You were there in the joyful beginnings and the painful goodbyes. That's not something easily forgotten."

The soul looked around the clinic — not as a place of sorrow, but a place of countless memories. A puppy's first check-up. A rescued stray learning to trust again. A tearful farewell made a little more bearable by a compassionate voice saying, "They're not in pain anymore."

"I just wanted them to know they weren't alone," the soul whispered.

The Angel smiled. "They knew."

The soul took one last look at the clinic, filled now with the warmth of what they had truly built — a legacy of compassion, trust, and unwavering care.

"I think… I'm ready now."

The Angel extended a hand. "Let's go."

As they stepped into the light, the clinic faded. But somewhere, a dog happily chased a ball in a backyard, a cat stretched lazily in a sunbeam, and a child hugged their beloved pet tightly — each moment made possible by the hands that once healed them.

And in the hearts of those who remembered, a quiet, eternal gratitude remained.