She's fallen asleep. I'm still awake, typing away on my laptop. I look over to her, the still dachshund, dreaming dachshund dreams. She is buried in a pile of blankets, her head sticking out from them.

I continue to watch my computer screen, when I hear the faintest sounds. "Pip...pip...pip...", she speaks. I don't know what it means. Is she calling to me? Is she asking for help? Does she need me to rescue her from a nightmare?

I turn around to the bed, petting her head and whispering to her. She opens her eyes, looking at me without moving her head. I watch as her eyes slowly close, she's fallen asleep again.

And now I can't leave her side.