Beginning last night we will no longer hear the spider-like sound of Ashley skittering through the house on her tiny little feet. We will no longer watch her shoot out from under an impossibly tight space when she thinks she’s been discovered. We will no longer need to ask one another if there’s been an “Ashley sighting” recently. For the first time since I rescued her from a feral life 12 years ago she’s no longer afraid, no longer skittish, no longer tense. She’s finally at peace. Lou and I made the decision to put her to sleep after discovering that she was repeatedly scratching the skin off the left side of her face. Her nerves had gotten so bad that it was only a matter of time before she scratched out her left eye. We didn’t want her to suffer anymore, whether it be physically or mentally, so took her to the vet last night. Knowing her recent history, they agreed this was for the best. Her final resting place will be on top of the hill over-looking the garden and the back of the house. Its in a position she would like; allowing her to watch everything around her, but from a comfortable distance away.