Hello Vet! How are you?

“I, too, once had such concerns like you, as a guardian.”

Lee Joon’s calm voice cut through the heavy air of the examination room.

“Did you, doctor?”

“Yes.”

“… May I ask what choice you made, doctor?”

In response to the guardian’s question, Lee Joon shook his head slowly and began to speak.

“It’s hard for me to put it into words. After I let my friend go, I was troubled like you. At that time, my only thought was that I had to save my friend, nothing else.”

“Then…”

“After I said goodbye to my friend, I began to wonder if my selfishness had made things harder for him. Did he actually want the treatment that I believed would save him?”

“… I want to know the same thing. What does our Nuri want?”

At the guardian’s words, Lee Joon offered a faint smile and continued.

“Even after my friend passed, for a long time I was unable to think straight. I only blamed myself for his departure.”

For a long time, Lee Joon was tormented with guilt after Kongdori had gone to the Doggy Star.

He believed he had sent Kongdori away too soon due to his ignorance of the illness and consumed every article about Kongdori’s condition, chastising himself.

Having gone through such a period, Lee Joon considered his current skills to be a gift from Kongdori.

“Then one day, I suddenly realized from a picture of the friend, ‘Ah, he was in a lot of pain.'”

“That kind of…”

“But, whenever he saw me, he always smiled. That’s why I never realized how much pain he was in. It was only when I looked through his pictures, that I noticed… Ah, Kongdori is the friend’s name. In the pictures, Kongdori’s eyebrows were sticking up. It was from the pain etched into his face, but I didn’t recognize it because his mouth was smiling.”

“Could our Nuri be like that too?”

The guardian asked, thinking of Nuri.

They recalled Nuri, who sometimes appeared weak, furrowed his brow, and was expressionless.

But Nuri always smiled when called by the family.

‘Is Nuri trying hard right now?’

Sensing the guardian’s thoughts, Lee Joon shook his head.

“That was precisely Kongdori’s heart. If I had known how much pain Kongdori was in, what would I have done?”

“That…”

The guardian of Nuri didn’t complete the sentence, but both she and Lee Joon understood very well the words left unspoken.

“Kongdori wanted me to stay by his side till the end without having strange ideas. That was why he didn’t show his pain.”

“Oh!”

Understanding Lee Joon’s words, determination filled the guardian’s eyes.

“If Nuri thinks the same as Kongdori, I will cheer for him till the end. It feels like that’s what I need to do.”

“I will do my utmost to assist you.”

“Thank you, doctor.”

“Would you want to come with me to see Nuri then?”

“No, if I go to Nuri now, I think I might cry. I’ll just stay here.”

Leaving the guardian in the consultation room, Lee Joon went to the ward.

“Nuri… are you in a lot of pain?”

『Not at all, woof. I am fine now, woof.』

“Okay. Your mom says she’s very worried about you.”

『…』

Hearing that his mom was worried, Nuri just blinked.

“Your mom wishes you weren’t in pain. She wants to be with you, but she worries it would be hard for you.”

Hearing Lee Joon’s words, tears gathered around Nuri’s blinking eyes.

『I…』

Nuri, who was about to answer the doctor’s query, closed his mouth back.

He had already made a decision inside but wasn’t sure of what his mom would think.

“Don’t think of anything else, just tell us your thoughts.”

『I… I would like to stay with Mom, sister, and Dad a little longer, seeing them and keeping them in my memory would make me less scared, woof.』

Nuri, slowly revealing his thoughts, felt the warmth from the doctor’s large hand holding his forehead.

While feeling the doctor’s warm touch, Nuri continued speaking.

『Mom, thank you, woof… I can endure the pain, woof. But it was a concern if mom had a hard time seeing me like this, woof.』
『You are so kind, meow.』
『So kind.』

Kkamnyang and Gray one, who were sitting beside him, pressed against him more closely as if they were supporting him.

“Mom is only worried that you have pain.”

『So when I was in pain, I hid it, woof.』

“What’s really saddening for your mom is watching you suffer alone.”

Blinking slowly, Nuri looked at the doctor.

“So tell your family when you’re in pain. That is what they wish from you.”

『Isn’t it sad for them to see me in pain, woof?』

“Of course it’s heartbreaking, but it’s even more painful for them to see you hiding in pain. So starting today, tell them when you’re hurting and say everything you wish.”

With the doctor gently stroking his forehead and cat friends sitting beside keeping him, Nuri felt reassured.

『… If Mom, dad, and Sister are beside me, going to the Doggy Star wouldn’t be scary, woof.』
『I will also watch over you, meow.』
『I will too.』

“And is there anything else you wish for? Say whatever you want. I’ll relay it to your mom.”

『As long as I can see Mom, dad, and Sister, that’s enough, woof.』

“Think carefully if there’s anything else. There might be things you want to say to your mom, or walks you’d like, or something you want to eat. Let’s do everything you want, eat whatever you want before you go.”

Starting to get bright-eyed, Nuri replied to the kind words of the doctor.

『Woof! There’s something I’d like to tell Mom.』

“And what else?”

『There’s also something to say to Sister and Dad. And also…』

Once Nuri started speaking, a stream of words flowed out about all the things he wished for.

“For us to fulfill all this, our Nuri must live very long, huh?”

『Right. You need to live a long life, meow.』
『Understood, woof.』

The strength in Nuri’s voice grew stronger as he replied.

***

Nuri visited Woof Woof Animal Clinic once or twice a week for his IV treatments, and that day was no different.

Upon hearing some commotion from outside, Nuri’s ears perked up.

As he twitched his nose and sniffed, anticipation shone in Nuri’s eyes.

‘Happily, I get to see my little sibling before leaving, woof.’

Soon, the expected voice of his sibling being brought in by the doctor confirmed Nuri’s hopes.

“Nuri, your sibling has arrived.”

As the ward door swung open, Ddangkong, with his plump build, entered the room slowly.

『Hyung Nuri, it’s been a while.』
『Ddangkong is here, woof!』
『Looking at your face, it seems the vet has offered you some good things, huh?』

Nuri, whose illness was apparent to anyone, received a warm hug from Ddangkong who also offered some kind words.

『Right, woof. I am enjoying lots of good things, woof.』
『That one is quite the vet, isn’t he?』
『Indeed, woof. The doctor is a very good one, woof.』
『So,Hyung Nuri, how are you feeling now? Are you hurting?』

Nuri and Ddangkong shared 12 long years of joy and sorrow, practically a lifetime together for dogs.

As Ddangkong gazed at Nuri, his eyes filled with emotion.

『I’m fine, woof. The doctor made sure I don’t feel pain, woof.』

Nuri too, while responding, looked at Ddangkong with eyes full of emotion.

『That is fortunate indeed.』

Though Ddangkong answered nonchalantly, he approached Nuri and hugged him tightly.

Nuri gently patted Ddangkong’s back with his front paw, which had no IV tubing attached to it.

『Ddangkong, my sibling.』
『Just say it, hyung.』
『Tell your Mom you love her, woof. Today, tomorrow, and every day, tell her, woof.』
『I will.』
『Eat lots of what you wish, woof.』
『Understood.』
『Thanks for coming by, woof.』
『You don’t have to say that. It’s only natural for me to visit my Hyung. And it’s thanks to the veterinarian after all, isn’t it?』
『Yes, woof. Truly an admirable person, woof.』

Nuri felt grateful to the doctor for bringing his friends to visit since he didn’t have the strength to go to the park.

Several other park friends who Nuri was close to also visited her, and each of them received similar messages as Ddangkong did from Nuri.

『Hyung, we will do as you said. Thank you very much.』

Kkakong expressed his gratitude for the kind words.

『Hyung! Sniff!』

The tender-hearted Mong-i shed tears against her will.

After saying goodbye to his park friends, Nuri also bid farewell to the cats as he returned home.

『… Today seems to be the last day, woof.』

The cats who had been with Nuri all that time neither denied nor confirmed his sentiment but simply hugged him tightly.

『Thank you, woof. Because of you guys, I never felt lonely or scared, woof. Live well, woof.』
『Goodbye, meow!』
『Take care.』

Nuri also expressed gratitude to Doctor Lee Joon.

『Thank you, doctor… woof. Thanks to you, I never felt lonely or in pain, woof.』

“Yes, and you will not feel pain from now on.”

The doctor gently carried Nuri and headed out of the ward.

『Doctor, I have things I wish to say to my mom, woof.』

“Alright, I will convey them to her. Say whatever’s on your mind.”

『I am grateful for everything. Thank you for allowing Nuri to live in our home. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for giving me so much delicious food. And also…』

Nuri felt hurried by the immense gratitude he had for his family.

Fearing he might leave for the Doggy Star without saying everything he wanted, Nuri’s pace quickened.

『Thank you for taking me to the park to meet friends, and thank you, dad, for taking me in the car to places with the salty water, thank you for the warm clothes in the cold…』

“Nuri, you can take your time, no need to rush. Slowly, alright?”

Despite feeling hurried, the doctor’s words eased Nuri’s heart.

『Just thank you for everything, woof. I love when mom holds me like this, woof.』

Embraced by his mom, Nuri spread his front legs wide and hugged him just like the cats did for her.

“Nuri! I love holding you in my arms so much.”

Nuri’s eyes widened in surprise.

『Oh, mom understands my words, woof!』

As Nuri beamed with joy at this, the doctor spoke to her.

“Yes, just like that, at home too, say whatever you want.”

『Understood, woof. Thank you for passing my words to mom, doctor, woof.』

Being held by his mom, Nuri waved goodbye with his front paw as they left the animal hospital.

『Goodbye, meow!』
『Take care now.』

Kkamnyang and Gray one, who waved from the cat tower, didn’t come down until the evening when their owner returned.

Homeward bound, Nuri closed his eyes that night surrounded by his family.

Setting off on his journey to the Doggy Star, Nuri’s expression was the epitome of bliss.

***

With a chime, the guardian family of Nuri entered the vet clinic.

“Welcome back. How did it go?”

“Yes, we managed to say goodbye peacefully. I’m glad we could do it. Thank you, doctor.”

The younger sister of Nuri joined his mom in thanking Lee Joon.

“Nuri would have liked that. He wasn’t alone till the end.”

“I believe so, too. Our Nuri smiled as he left us.”

Nuri’s sister showed a picture to Lee Joon.

In it, Nuri appeared with a tranquil expression.

“He seems to be dreaming a good dream.”

“Right?”

As the guardian spoke, Lee Joon nodded.

“And here… Nuri departed very peacefully. We feared He might cry out in immense pain, but he went very quietly. Just before leaving, he looked at us and barked softly, as if bidding us to stay well.”

The guardian played a video recorded on the phone.

As she had described, Nuri seemed at peace in the video.

『… I’m so happy, woof. I am so grateful, woof! And for bringing me to Woof Woof Animal Clinic too, thank you so much, woof. For letting me meet the doctor, thank you…』

Before finishing his last words, Nuri gently closed his eyes.

As Lee Joon watched the video in a daze, he spoke.

“Nuri was saying thank you to his family until the moment he went to the Doggy Star.”

“Sniff, we knew it was hard for him even to breathe, couldn’t he just have gone peacefully… It was apparent he was aware… Nuri, with your eyes so reddened with tears, just kept looking at us… His eyes must have hurt, doctor?”

Finally unable to hold back any longer, Nuri’s sister burst into tears.

“No, he was grateful. He took in his family with his eyes until he left for the Doggy Star, that made him happy.”

“No, we were so happy thanks to Nuri. From the moment we met, Nuri gave us endless love. He watched me from the same spot, smiling even when I was mad or too busy to play.”

“Nuri was happy, which is why he could smile. So please remember those happy times and smile. Nuri wished that his family would smile.”

“Yes. Nuri truly loved it when we smiled.”

“I’ll remember, mom. Nuri running around the living room giggling as he saw us laughing.”

As the guardians shared fond memories of Nuri, they smiled.

Lee Joon, too, joined them with a smile, as if hearing Nuri’s laughter.

『I’m happy… woof!』

TC: Hi! I hope everyone is doing well. I was deeply moved by Nuri’s story and shed some tears. A pet is not just a ‘pet’, but a big part of the family, bringing us joy and comfort. To all the readers who share a similar story with Nuri and his family: know that their passing means they are free from pain and can run freely, as far as they wish. Woof!