Harry passed away last 23 May, at around 10PM. :( My heart is sad. And so is Henry. That night, I was with Mama on the phone when I went to Harry to administer his fluids. He was already dehydrated because he hasn't been drinking nor eating for almost a week. Suddenly, when he was on my lap, he convulsed violently yet briefly, and I immediately placed him back on his bed. I checked if he had excrements and true enough, he did. This was the partial confirmation of my hunch that Harry's dead. I tried to nudge him vigorously but then I saw that his ears and paws were already pale. He was already lifeless. All this happened within a minute, and I cried when I realised that Harry had indeed passed. Mama heard me cry on the phone. She comforted me and told me to thank Harry, and to bring all the negative juju that I have with him to his final resting place. Here's a photo of Harry moments after his death:
Because I knew he would die soon, I prepared a box with dried rose petals as his coffin. Apparently, the box I prepared was small, and so I transferred him to this bigger box with Japanese paper. Inside the box flap it says, "Greatest of All Time." Such an appropriate title for my baby rat, Harry. <3 I caressed Harry one more time before I closed the box. I didn't seal it, just closed the top flap. I already have a plan where to bury Harry, as I have been ruminating on it for some time now. It's a nice spot, right beside Fort Worth's Modern Art Museum. I would walk or bike by that spot sometimes to and from school. It's like a small hill, with beautiful big old trees. By happenstance, I also had some gypsophila on hand. I occasionally buy fresh flowers to put around the apartment, it's very nice and feels luxurious for me.
So the next day in the afternoon, 24 May, I gathered my tools, trowel, gloves, water bottle to soften the soil, plastic bag, rags, and the gypsophila. The burial site is a stone's throw away from the apartment. So I walked going there with Harry in the box that I hand carried. I found a spot, poured water on the soil, and started digging. I was so focused on digging and finishing everything because I might get caught and reprimanded for doing this. I felt sorry because burying Harry didn't feel solemn. Nonetheless, I was able to dig a good enough depth, put in the rose petals, removed Harry from his coffin, and placed him gingerly on top of the rose petals. I said my final farewell, caressed him one last time, placed a handwritten note on top of him that says thank you for being such a good rat, and thank you for the opportunity to be his Rat Mom for the past 1.5 years. Then I proceeded to close the grave, the soil slowly engulfing Harry's white, furry body, until he was fully covered. On the soil mound I erected the gypsophila flowers. I think I was able to bury Harry nicely. <3
Harry's final resting site. May he be protected by this tree, and may he also nourish this tree.
To others, Harry is just a rat. But to me, Harry and Henry have been my companions for 1.5 years and counting. They have been with me through my crazy PhD journey here in the US, keeping me sane and happy. Sila ang karamay ko rito, and I'll always be thankful and grateful to be able to care for them.
I love you, Harry! You'll always be my baby rat!
