The day after my birthday in 2014, I went down to the pet store and bought myself a pair of baby guinea pigs. One of them was a little brown hairball that I mistook for an Abyssinian at first. It was only after her hair kept on growing until she looked like a moving toupee that I realized she was a Peruvian. I named her Bramble.

Yesterday, Bramble was put to sleep. She had a large tumor on her underside, and when I first noticed it, I couldn't afford to have it treated. By the time I did have money for treatment, she was much older and it had gotten much larger, and her odds of even making it through anesthesia were low. It was just a matter of keeping her comfortable and happy until I couldn't anymore.

This photo was taken about a month and a half ago, before a vet visit to assess her quality of life. I was honestly expecting that visit would be her last, that the doctor would advise having her put to sleep that day, so my mom and I took her to the park, to let her enjoy the sunshine and fresh air one last time. Fortunately, it didn't come to that, so Bramble got to have a beautiful day to enjoy a tasty treat of fresh grass, a sunny day, and lots of love and cuddles.

We buried her in the garden yesterday, and soon there will be flowers growing from that spot. I hope they'll be half as beautiful as she was.