Together, Eliza and Yesha had shared a stinging moment in life, enriched by Tyson’s limitless moral support as they went home, and were determined to understand their Universe more fully and change their world. They wouldn’t allow anything or anyone to slow them down in their quest to reduce suffering. Together, they desired to cure this beautiful world of its many unfortunate diseases, lighten its burden on humanity, and enlighten society through scientific and other untold levels of achievement. Through their efforts, they would see that these pursuits would lend to the human need for exploration and discovery—pushing innovation so that humanity could travel into space with a much safer means to do so, and with less risk to life. They envisioned humankind spanning the Universe and solving each issue along the way.
Throughout their schooling, Eliza and Yesha completed countless projects together, studied for numerous tests, and shared ideas of how to make this world better with each other.
Secretly, Yesha appreciated her perception that Eliza had a much more advanced ability to soak in knowledge and translate it into concrete ideas and thoughts, it gave her a sense of security, in a most ironic way, and yet she would very rarely mention or hint at such. In reality, they were both unique and gifted in so many ways, and while it seemed Yesha could do three times what her peers could, and Eliza could do seven times what Yesha’s peers could do, Yesha was still very remarkable. Instead of being lost in feelings of jealousy, she complemented Eliza in her efforts and acknowledged her for a job well done. Together they would still find the time to go outside, lie on their backs with Tyson, snuggle with him in their sleeping bags, and listen to the latest albums of their favorite musicians.
It was 1990, Eliza was nine and Yesha twelve, and they had memorized the words to “But Not Tonight,” “Strangelove,” “Policy of Truth,” “World in My Eyes,” and so much more. Amid songs, they talked about all of the various sciences, the associated arithmetic, and their college and university plans. As they did, they cuddled with Tyson, who now had more gray hair and seemed to be getting a little older. Still thinking of him as the sweet little boy he was when he was a pup, Eliza and Yesha decided on what to do once they started High School and completed it. One day, they found Tyson laying on his side, after calling for him and receiving no response. He seemed unable to move but was panting, breathing, and upon seeing Eliza and Yesha, he peered at them with his friendly and hopeful eyes just the same.
The Williams, Yesenia, Eliza, and Yesha took Tyson into the veterinarian clinic, and after a series of visits, the doctors diagnosed him with a rare form of acute cancer. His abdomen had been distended each time before bringing him in, and they found out that it had been due to a rare type of autoimmunity as well as blood gathering within his stomach region. They wanted Eliza and her family to give Tyson ten pills a day, but they knew that would get old quick. They did as the vet had instructed, but after going through every single one, on a list, of the tasty treats to trick him into swallowing them, he wouldn’t have any of it. Ultimately, Tyson was too smart and discovered the pills in his food, and one by one, each treat on their list was no longer viable since he would no longer wish to eat the food used to trick him. Perhaps the pills made his stomach ache, and he knew better than humans what he needed. After trying to pry open his mouth on several occasions while trying to look with all the love in the world into his eyes to tell him it was okay and trying to put the pills in the back of his throat, and him spitting them out, they decided they could longer torture their boy any further. With a lot of tears, they decided to forgo the pills.
Instead, they gave Tyson what they knew would perk him up, hugs, love, and his favorite dog jerky treats, and to their surprise, he ate them and seemed to spring back to life for a while. However, Tyson had cancerous formations in his spleen and his liver. No matter the care, no matter the love, and no matter the time spent, Tyson’s red blood cell counts were low, and his white blood cells seemed to be attacking everything. His platelet levels were bottomed out, and his lips and gums were turning pale—he was in pain and suffering, yet brazenly tough and never whimpering or complaining. Rather than allow him to die of starvation in a desiccated version of himself, they spoiled him with his favorite foods, and spent a lot of time with him, soaking in the last moments the best they knew how.
Tyson lived strong even through those last few days. He passed away shortly following Yesha’s and Eliza’s birthdays on Friday, July 11, 1990. The night before he passed away they had brought him to the best animal hospital they could find, but the doctors were determined to kennel him there out of fear that he might die. At first, the Williams and Alevtina families went back to their house. However, after calmly talking to each other, they decided to return to the animal hospital to bring him home. He would have died in the worst way, alone, had they not taken him away from the hospital’s kennel—where he would have been without love and by himself. Instead, Eliza and Yesha snuggled close together with him in-between them in their sleeping bags outside. Before taking him into the hospital one final time, they took him to his favorite park with a lake nearby where he found enough strength to walk around and enjoy their company and the ambiance of his environment.
When Tyson passed, Eliza was torn severely and so was Yesha. Eliza had pleaded her parents for and requested from the doctors a locket of Tyson’s hair, to keep him close and remember him by. She had just turned ten-years-old nine days before, and Yesha had just turned thirteen-years-old a day before that, and they both had believed he’d continue to be around for a long, long time. Time was cruel, yet they embraced each other and cried countless tears. They loved him, and he was torn from their lives, seemingly all too soon, and unabashedly full of life. They remembered the many enjoyable, freeing, sweet and unforgettable moments Tyson had spent with them. Eliza and Yesha would never forget.
The second night without him, for her spirits to heal, Eliza and Yesha talked about all of the enlightening moments shared with Tyson with their parents, and then went on a walk together. Before going to bed, late that night, Eliza wrote Tyson a letter:
“Dear Tyson, I will never forget how happy you were whenever any of us would come in through the door, every day of every year. You made each of us feel special; you made us feel loved and appreciated. You gave us caring companionship no matter what was going on, through thick or thin. As the end came near you may not have had the strength to go to the door anymore, but no matter, you would take what power you had and place yourself in locations where you knew we would be and lie there waiting for us, for me.
“Gazing into your beautiful brown and golden eyes, I knew you loved, you cared, and that I was your world; we were your world. You and Yesha are both the loves of my life. Never was there an awkward moment or a moment of shame with you around. No matter what we happened to be doing, you loved us just the same.
“I remember after your second set of trips to the hospital, having been stung several times with an IV, I was stung by a hornet. My parents took me to the clinical specialist, and you were there to keep me company. The doctor gave me a shot to make sure I didn’t suffocate, and there you were, your paw extended. You reached out to me with your head nestled between your two front feet, and your eyes gazed up at mine as if you understood. You seemed to know what I was going through. We connected profoundly that day with a lovely shared and bonding experience.
“Those moments where I would look upon you for long periods of time, hoping that the image of your face, your nose, your kissy dog lips, and mouth would never leave my mind.
“I breathed you in, sniffing the fur just behind your eyes and by your neck so I would never forget your scent that I found to be so adorable. I did this on many occasions so that if I ever smelled that showered doggy perfume and natural aroma again, the pleasant smell that was only yours, I could think of you and imagine you were there with me, my friend.
“Your brindle coat, the white triangulated shape of hair from the bottom of your mouth to your chest and your tum
my, the golden, brown, and black brindle colorings giving way to white and silver as you matured, all of your details are etched into my memories. Yesha and I would always pet you to let you know you were loved in much the same way you loved us—all of these images and moments I will never forget.
“When I die, I hope I see you in Heaven, and I wish I could have you back. Perhaps not now, maybe not tomorrow, but someday, perchance that will be possible. I hope you can forgive me since I was a little rough with you when I was a little girl. I learned quickly, and so did you. I anticipate that you will be able to forgive me for being so enthusiastic with and engrossed in my studies on too many occasions when your cute wet nose would nudge my arm reminding me you were still there. You were dying from cancer, and we didn’t know until it was too late. We didn’t want you to suffer alone. We asked Mom and Dad to bring you home that last night to spend the time with you; I hope that the time we spent was as enjoyable for you as you made it for us.
“I hope you can forgive me for letting you go.
“Your life seemed rejuvenated when we took you to the lake—the small fight you gave to the doctor of death was as if you were saying, ‘I love you, but keep me around for Heaven’s sake!’ But, really, you were saying, ‘I love you, I understand.’ Now you’re in Heaven if there is a Heaven, but to me, you deserve so much more—an abundantly longer life. Living in this world without you gets harder every moment that passes by. Those beautiful reminders of you are hidden away in every spot of our home, with spiritual images of you playing, and being there where you used to be, without even a thought that I would ever lose you.
“You were my sweet boy, and I could not let you face the indignity of a prolonged death, suffering and trying to be strong through it all. Instead, each of us gave you love, we took you to a happy place, and you showed us courage in the face of death. In the space of three seconds after the doctor put the needle in your arm, you went from looking into my eyes to an eternal sleep where I knew it was the last time I would see you look up at me. I feared for the first time that I just may never get you back.
“I hope for a Heaven, a kind place without pain or suffering surrounded by you and all who were kind throughout the history of Earth. I miss you and love you and will do so until I can see you again.
“I will cry many tears yet try to be strong. My dear Tyson, Yesha was hurt dearly too. It has crushed her soul, so I will do my best to fill the void left behind with your passing. Unfortunately, I don’t know if that will ever be possible.
“I went to school yesterday, just for personal study, and one of the teachers I had previously passed by me on my way to the library and asked me how I was doing. In-between tears I explained to him about you, Tyson, and how you blessed my life, how you were there for my family, and we were there for you. My teacher, amidst tears himself, shared with me a precious and even hopeful belief. He said that if we ever were to train another puppy that you would be there to help us.
“Everything you did was so perfect. The way you snuggled with Yesha and me, kissing us on our face as we sang our favorite songs to you, snuggling with us as we slept under the stars—you showed us how much you loved us. The way you would lie down in complete submission and obedience when I got down on my hands and my knees, you made me feel special. Occasionally when I was doing pushups or sit-ups you’d come and visit as if I was nuts, but sooth me in your own way. The way you helped clean any stray bits of food off of the floor, the manner in which you helped clean dishes, the last morsel of delicious food you enjoyed each time—I’ll never forget. The way you sat at the door and watched for Mom when she would go get the mail, awaiting her return—I knew you truly cared while serving and protecting. The way you took after Dad and liked your feet to be clean, the only difference was that you would lick them until they smelled like popcorn and met your standard of cleanliness—I will always adore your obsessions. The way you appreciated our garden, our frogs, our fish, laying down in the sleeping bag or on our beds with us—without you here, it will always be… different.
“How cute it was when your ears would perk up, your right ear slightly more poised than your left ear, your big round eyes widening with interest as we would ask you if you wanted to go on a walk, or even when we would meow like a cat. The way you enjoyed your simple toys showed me how little materialism truly means—you loved what you had, took pride in the kindness shown, and you adored everything given, because it was a gift from someone you loved, no matter what it was. The way you would peer over the table a little creepy and funny like on the occasions that we would sit down and watch television—you were paying attention to us, watching us as we watched TV—how sweet! That last walk where you bravely went up to the fence of the mean German Shepherd who would always ravenously bark at you and scare you, you showed him you weren’t scared and gave him a deep bark back—you were a hero! We saw him a day after you passed, and even he seemed to be apologetic and contrite despite all.
“All of these things are but a few of the priceless moments that were shared, acts you alone were selfless enough to pursue, and each thing you did was unique to you. You always seemed to carefully balance your affection between each person in the room. You would rest with Yesha, Mom, Dad, Yesenia, and me, and you would always wait until one of us would spoil you with treats as we came home, and you pawed the door to let us know when you needed to go outside. You would rest with me whenever I was deep in thought and concerned over the day.
“I may never get you back, at least that is my greatest fear, but when I breathe your scent in from the air, I will know you are near. I will never forget how your puppy face would slightly and cutely pucker up before you would bark, giving me enough time to hug you and tell you that all was okay. I loved you, I will always adore you, and I will never forget you.
“I hope you don’t mind that I saved a lock of your hair to keep with me as I meditate and think things through. I miss you already. Goodbye, my dear and sweet friend.
“With Love,
“Eliza Amber Williams”
Chapter 06: Eliza Williams, Section 3
One year went by and then two years, but Eliza kept Tyson’s lock of hair with her. After the first year, she had crafted a bookmark with a Ziploc bag, a card-paper border with laminate, and a favorite picture enclosed within it and in an additional card-paper frame. Combining the pieces together artistically and smoothly, allowed her to keep him near without worrying about any questions as to why. Eliza was proud of her parents, enjoyed spending time with Yesha, and she knew she had to move on. She was strong, healthy, and carrying him with her in her own way, reminded her each day to contemplate how to reduce the misery, the suffering, and the merciless indignity of things that hurt and wounded so many throughout life.
After some time, she breathed in and breathed out and felt good about all of her treasured memories and decided to never let her dedication toward her studies slow down—she also vowed that one day she would bring Tyson back.
Almost four years after Tyson’s passing had gone by, their focus began to change. Eliza’s and Yesha’s Senior Prom came around, and their schoolmates were bustling and excited, planning, prepping, and deciding who was going with who to that final and rather pretentious social gathering of acceptance. Despite all, they decided to do something different, to think for themselves, and to veer from the norm. Together, they decided to go to a science convention in Washington, DC. With a sheer sense of duty, their parents expressed their concern over their choice not to spend the time with the other kids, their “friends,” yet they were also very proud of them for making a less likely decision and then they approved of their optional excursion in the name of science.
The young ladies were excited to see some of the greatest minds of the day as they climbed on board the bus. En route they shared their notes on the various Nobel Laureates.
This would be the first time that Eliza and Yesha would get to meet Dr. Vesha Celeste. Dr. Celeste had been there in attendance and had
even provided a presentation. Even though she was overdue for the Nobel Peace Prize for her work, her studies, and her discoveries in the name of Astrophysics and various other related sciences, the girls had chosen her as a favorite. Eliza’s mom had talked to them about Dr. Celeste many times, and they studied her works in-depth, so naturally, they were excited to actually get to meet her. After the convention was over, Eliza and Yesha found themselves lucky as they approached and talked with Dr. Celeste for a couple of hours. Once the meeting hall cleared, and amidst their excitement, all three went to a nearby French Café, called La Madeleine.
She finally told them to call her Vesha. “Our names are very much alike. I’m Yesha, and you’re Vesha,” Yesha had brought up at one point.
Vesha reciprocated, “We both have backgrounds from far eastern Europe. It is a beautiful coincidence, my friend. I’m so proud of you and Eliza, and your love of science. You two are kindred spirits to me.”
As the time went by, they grew more comfortable with each other and talked openly and enthusiastically, eating their scrumptious and savory meals, while sharing ideas about space, the stars, and how galaxies worked.
Before parting ways, Vesha complimented them for their pursuit of the sciences and their academic prowess, “Thank you so much for choosing to see me over going to that silly prom. Proms have their purpose, but so does science and freedom of choice. Plus, I am so pleased to have met you. I can see within you that you are both very vibrant youth, so willing to learn, and you should know that I have a good hunch that you both have a big future ahead of you.”
Further than Before- Pathway to the Stars Page 14