Toffee and Coffee

by Nestmouse Fri 03 Jun 2016, 1:10 pm

Toffe and Coffee were two boys born in an animal shelter where their mother was sheltered as an unwanted pet. The two came to live with me after their first seven weeks. They were with me until they were approximately one year and nine months old.
Last week, I found Coffe panting, and clinging to a large wooden toy, with his body temperature rapidly dropping. I knew he was dying and while it was four o'clock in the afternoon I took him with me going to bed where he kept himself warm around my body until the early hours in the morning when he died.
His brother Toffee started losing his ability to walk this week while drinking and eating day and night without ever being hydrated or filled with food enough. He had one visit to the vet, a medication to support his kidneys which he didn't take, and another one I didn't have the chance to try out - today, he could only crawl and stumble between his food and nest - I wanted to comfort him but everytime my hand came too close he squeaked and jumped. He was afraid of being touched where he was in pain. Toffee was put to sleep with gas and a successive injection today. As always, I stayed with him; when he was fast asleep from the gas I held him in my hands for the needle.
So, all of a sudden, my babies Coffee and Toffee who lived with me for quite a long time, in separate homes but somehow belonging together (in my mind), are gone. Since summer 2014, we had wild mouse parties on many nights; I want to thank both Toffee and Coffee for all the time they shared with me.