For Theodora

My friend's rabbit died on Sunday.
Rabbits will hide injuries or illness well, and she outwardly seemed fine when I saw her just last week.  We'd had a similar scare last year, the vet diagnosed a gastrointestinal blockage and we gave her intensive medicine and closely monitored her diet thereafter.  We sensed then that she had a very sensitive constitution.
Reports from friends say she stopped eating Saturday afternoon, stopped drinking in the wee hours of Sunday, and was in swift decline by the time he got her to the veterinary clinic Sunday morning.  She was gone in 15 minutes.  I pray she did not suffer and wasn't afraid to pass on.  Perhaps she was glad to surrender her weak body.  I'm glad she got to spend her last night with the man she loved, who loved her very much.
Theodora was a good bunny.  She kept the housekeeping as any doe maintains her warren, studiously nibbling electrical cords she perceives are invasive vines or roots that if left unchecked will grow to bring down the house.  She was our night sentry, guarding us as we slept and monitoring our trips to the washroom.  She grew accustomed to running on hardwood and tile floors and we could hear this tiny bunny galloping from room to room.  She joined us for meals to eat as family, and was ever-enthusiastic for her morning piece of banana.  She was curious, intelligent, opinionated, and very expressive.  She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.