it hurts here.

i watch the dogs—

sleeping beside me on the bed.

unaware of how little time they have.

one already halfway through.

they breathe softly.

eyes closed.

paws overlapping—

more than i can count.

their bellies rise and fall

like waves

too gentle to last.

the mouth curls just so.

an occasional blink.

a twitch.

are they dreaming?

one day,

they will stop.

but it’s now