Last night I noticed that our little fishie, flower, didn't seem to be himself when I fed him.  He didn't even swim up to the surface like he usually did when I turn the light on.  So I gave the tank a little bump to try to dislodge him from the artificial plant where he was hanging.  I saw a flutter of life and he swam to the surface for a moment before listlessly floating/swimming sideways for a bit only to settle on his side on the bottom of the tank. 

Subsequent proddings with the fish net got a weak response, and I was filled with dread.  So I tried to prepare Leah as best I could.  She seemed okay with the prospect of flower dying. 

This morning, I noticed flower's lifeless body on the bottom of the tank.  I did not draw attention to it as we were on our way out the door and didn't really have time for a fish funeral. 

When we got home, I broke the news to her.  Tears welled up in her eyes and together we fished him out with the net, said our goodbyes and gave him a dignified burial at sea.  She shut the lid, pulled the handle and turned to me wracked with heartbreaking sobs.  She would not let me do anything except cuddle her while she mourned.  I almost cried for the damned thing, I felt so bad for her. 

She expressed concern at the thought of having a fish ghost in the toilet, so we had a talk about death.  And five minutes later she was playing happily with her barbies.  Periodically, she would tell me how much she loved and missed flower, and then promptly asked if she can have a gerbil.  Is the death of a pet adequate grounds to be automatically granted another pet of a different species?  I don't really want a gerbil.

I thought that flower would never die.  I've had him for about a year and a half, and though it's horrible to admit, I have forgotten to feed him, forgotten to change his water, let the water evaporate until there was only an inch left.  He was just fine!!  He was invincible!! 
Then I got him a decent tank and a light and fed him every day...and he dies.  I know now that he only died because he chose to.
He was crazy that way.

Flower
2003 - 2005
R.I.P