--I--

When I looked into its eyes, I saw darkness. Hurt. Pain. Anger. Sorrow. Grief. It gritted its teeth, and I leapt back.

"Please"

"Don't hurt me"

"Get back"

"Don't touch me"

Its eyes spoke these words loudly. It couldn't move. The trap was shut tightly around its leg. I left and returned with a plate. On the plate, I put a few raw meat pieces. It touched it but didn't eat anything. I returned to my house. From the window, I saw how it ate the meat. I repeated this a few times until it let me close enough.

I rescued it from the trap. For a moment it danced around from happiness. It leapt in the air and chased its tail. Then, in the next moment, it collapsed in the snow, red blood puddle increased from it. I kneeled beside it. For a second our eyes met, and I saw gratitude and relief. Then its eyes fell dark and never saw light again. I buried it the next morning.

This sad, momentary happiness left an impact on me. I rethought my life. About its life. Such short bliss I had given it. But still - I had given the fox its last moment of freedom. It had died as a free and happy animal.