Oh, Nab - I’m so sorry that this loss is hitting you so hard. Just concerned about your line: “I’m a bad student, I’m failing at the game” — which mustn’t be true.

Whatever you do, please just don’t go blaming yourself. Methinks you were likely a superb pet owner. Again, what we do as humans — thankfully so many of us do right by our companions over our lives — as they give us so much joy and comfort during their lives.

Hang in there, grieve the hell out of Skipper’s loss right now, feel your feelings (which is healthy), and then just quietly know that this difficult time will pass and the loss won’t always feel this acute.

If this is the first such loss, it can be the toughest. It gets better. Hang in there, Nab. - Seth ✦