Spock had been by her side for fifteen years. An Australian Shepherd, faithful until the very last minute, the kind of dog that grows old with you and becomes part of your own story.
That night, she held him in her arms knowing it was goodbye. And just then, without warning, the sky opened up in color: an aurora borealis, unusual at that latitude, appeared above them as she hugged him for the last time. A geomagnetic storm had pushed the northern lights farther than usual, pure astronomical coincidence. But for her, no science mattered: it was a sign, a farewell gift for a companion who deserved no less.
She shared the photo on Reddit along with others of Spock: as a puppy, as an adult, always there. Hundreds of people responded with condolences, with their own stories of beloved pets, with the same certainty that some farewells come accompanied by something greater than us.