My Office Will Never Be The Same After Today

I didn't quite expect it, but after returning to my office this afternoon from being out just 3 hours I could feel it.

My office will never be the same after today. It felt -- lonely. I lost the best friend and co-worker I have ever had after 15 years of extreme loyalty.

15 years of being there every single day, never missing a single day. Always by my side, lifting my moods on bad days and making the good days that much better.

Keeping me on schedule. Those nights I would be up working into the wee hours of the morning he would show up just to be there in case I needed him. And then, if I would drag myself to sleep around 4 or 5, making sure I was up for work by 6 to start a new day.

He had the perfect name, too. Shadow. He was like my shadow, at my feet under my desk then jumping up to follow me whenever I got up, even if only to go into the next room.

On our mid-day break as we went outside to stretch our legs he suddenly collapsed. I picked up my 15 year old 90 pound black lab and rushed him to the Vet. They did everything they could for him and then his heart just stopped. And then I cried. Unashamedly in public. Because that is what Shadow deserved.

No, my office will never be the same after today.