by Emotions are a universal part of the human experience, and sometimes, they catch us off guard in the most unexpected ways. Whether it’s a bittersweet moment, a sudden wave of nostalgia, or an act of kindness that melts your heart, everyone has a reason for their last cry.
The Last Howl
U/LRRPC: “The day I took my dog in to be euthanized was one of the hardest I’ve experienced in my life. He was a boxer mix but must’ve had some kind of hound in him because every time he heard sirens (from police, ambulance), he would tip his head back and let out this super quiet little howl.
The day we put him to sleep – right after the first shot – an ambulance drove by with sirens on and he let out his last little quiet howl. It was so incredibly heartbreaking. I miss that guy so so much.”
No More Tweet
U/EV_educator: “We had to euthanize our very first pet bird a few days ago. My wife and I raised him and had him for over 10 years. I’ve lost dogs before and this is no less painful. Nothing can describe the grief and pain you feel losing a pet. They are family members.
My bird spent his final moments in my hands and passed away while I held him. At the very least, I was with him until the very end and he knew it. Rest in peace buddy. I’ve cried every day since Tuesday when we brought him in.”
A Dance of Goodbye
U/Inevitable_Client237: “My partner and I’s pet Bearded Dragon died recently. He was a huge help this year for me. Being unemployed and loosing both my grandparents around the same time. I’d go in almost everyday to feed the little guy a raspberry. He’d greet me with a dance or a smile.
So it really hurt seeing him die. I cried for a solid 4 days afterwards. He was such a huge part of our little family we’ve made together. I really miss him and it doesn’t feel the same around here without him. 😔”
Emotional Overflow
U/Additional-World-357: “I have cried three times today. Once for a colleague who put his dog to sleep yesterday. I’ve never met this dog and my colleague works in another town. My sister is bringing her 18mo home and I didn’t know until she called this morning. Normally no problem. HOWEVER I am driving three hours to get them from the airport so I had to figure out toddler things this morning. I started our dogs dinner routine at breakfast.
Oh, and a family friend who’s a widow has a ‘friend’ and I want him to know he deserves happiness after his soul mate passed away a few years ago. Four times today. I am 27 weeks pregnant, all of that happened before 8am, and we have a baby shower this weekend. I’ll probably cry another 10 times today and 100 tomorrow 😆”
Lonely Struggles
U/Roadkill_Ramen: “Over being lonely again, the remorse my depression was the leading cause my partner left me, the uncertainty of the future with nobody on my side
and the fact that I am unable to start a convo when I want to talk to a woman, the lack of friends to go out because everyone is bond to family and kids. Mid 40s is my death sentence”
Birthday Grief
U/aigret: “My aunt died in June, 12 weeks after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. She was like a second mom to me and such a light in my life. I cry about her often but my first birthday without her is coming up and it just really f—— sucks. She never forgot an important date and went out of her way to make people feel special.
It’s not the gifts I’ll be missing, but the sense of belonging she gave to me. That I mattered and I was important and worth celebrating. I don’t have anyone else in my life who cares about me that way. First holiday without her stings, and Thanksgiving and Christmas are going to suck too.”
Reality Doubt
U/Environmental-Bite80: “Annoyed over the fact that my husband says no or denies everything I say. I can say ‘the sky is such a beautiful blue today!’
And he’ll reply ‘no, it’s not really blue, it’s blah blah blah’ I can even say I feel sick, ‘well you don’t look sick so I’m saying you’re not’ it’s very distressing and I’m now questioning my reality.”
Paris Sunrise
U/Kleeby1: “I was lying in a hotel bed in Paris and missed all my friends because I went there in a bit of a rush. Then I booked the train home in the morning.
Then there was this moment the next morning on my way to gare de lion, the streets were almost empty and the sun came up right through the alley I was walking through while listening to ‘Setting sun’ by Pearl Jam, those were tears of joy.”
Gone But Loved
U/IntelligentIce368: “My dog passed away early September, she got sick on a Tuesday and got diagnosed with IMHA that Thursday, and when my dad told me the results I cried very hard, we were going to put her down Friday morning, but she was barking at other dogs and started eating a little bit again.
I went to work at 2pm that day and at 2:30 she had a seizure in the backyard. A lot of tears were shed that whole week and especially after we got her ashes back, she wasn’t even five yet and her lost her brother two years ago”
Fur-Ever Remembered
U/nilocrram: “An hour ago. She was a good dog, 8.5 years old. Named her Daisy as the first thing she did when we brought her home was run into the garden and nip at the daisies.
Tick borne anaplasmosis and lyme at the same time, wreaked havoc on kidney function. After multiple meds and 12 days of not eating we held her while the vet performed the injection. I miss you girl. I hope a great dane is waiting for you on the other side, you were always so goofy around the bigger dogs… love forever, your daddy”
Bittersweet Moments
U/tibtibs: “I was putting my almost 2 year old son to bed last night and sometimes like to sing to him. I was listening to a Taylor Swift playlist in my ear and ‘Never Grow Up’ came on. I barely made it through singing that song to him without a full break down.
I love my kids so much and love watching them grow, but man is it bittersweet. The only reason I didn’t break down is because he started singing ‘Heads Shoulders Knees and Toes’.”
Unreciprocated Love
U/Lizziloo87: “My mom has never truly loved me as much as I did or how I love my kids. She thinks she does but her actions make it clear she in fact, does not. It’s a hard pill to swallow when you’re in your mid 30s and spent your entire life thinking you’re close and only to realize that she only liked having someone (could have been anyone) to vent to and treat as her free therapist.
To realize that she hasn’t ever deeply thought about how her actions and behaviors affected her children and to this day hasn’t taken any responsibility for her role in the demise of our relationship.”
Redefining Myself
U/kitten_prince: “It’s recent news but I got into trouble and got arrested and lost my job. It was a non-violent crime to the extent of felony level. I sometimes think I’m a lowlife and it could have been avoided.
I thought I knew myself, but I let my intrusive thoughts win so I guess I don’t know myself very well. Going to therapy to re-evaluate myself, and making some changes.”
Wrong Timing
U/FluroBlack: “Ive been crushing on a girl for a while and we went on a few dates recently but due to the dinamic of her current situation I just know that I cant enter a relationship with her because it would not work for me.
Hormonal Chaos
U/Palindromer101: “I cried on Wednesday because I’m on my period and I was experiencing an adrenaline rush from almost being t-boned by an i—- while driving home from lunch. My partner interrupted me as I was trying to tell him what happened, and it just made me snap.
I was so upset and through the tears was stammering out, ‘I’m sorry, I don’t know why I’m being like this.’ even though I know its the stupid hormones wrecking havoc on me just because.”
Lost and Overwhelmed
U/Ashlb-16: “I had a huge fight with my brother, and it made me realize a lot of things. I’m so depressed and burnt out it’s almost unbearable, it’s begun to impact my work and personal life. I don’t know how to drive and I need to, but I’m terrified. I need a better job so that I can take care of myself and my mother, but I live in a bad area with no places that pay well.
I need help. Therapy. Something. But I’m so scared and I don’t even know where to start. I just want to be the sister he needs that he can look up to and depend on, not the miserable burden I am now”
Digging Farewell
U/Chrisaudi27t: “Took my 16.5 year old cat who was perfect only days earlier to the vet. She was struggling to breathe, found out her kidneys had failed, she was blind and I had to let her go.
Big strong man, crying like a baby on the way out of the vets with her in her carrier. Knowing that I had to dig a hole and say goodbye.”
Missed Blessings
U/Leather-Marsupial723: “Looking at my daughter sleeping 2 nights ago. She just turned 6 months old and I lost 2 grandparents last year(one a few months before we were expecting one about a month after I had told her we were expecting)
who I know would have loved her so much. Thinking about how I wished they could have met her got me. Gets me every time it pops up in my head.”
Eternal Devotion
U/omgben69: “My grandma’s love for her passed husband. I’ve always known my grandma was lonely, and I always knew she loved my grandpa. He’s been gone for 20 years. This morning while at breakfast with her, listening to her talk about him. I felt I understood the scope of devotion and attachment to the love her life.
Looking at her I hid tears in my eyes and I thought about the tragic loneliness her life has been for the past twenty years and how she can never manage to speak about him without holding back tears.”
