Stilled

And so a sad ending...five little hearts silenced...ten tiny opposable thumbs in repose...five miniscule prehensile tails quieted...momma is gone...now so are her babies...no one to warm them...no teat to suckle...too young to rehabilitate...not enough resources...too many stranded baby sea lions to save...five newborn possums triaged to an eternal outcome...euthanized...put to death...their best chance of survival motionless...still I held one in my hand...warmed it...felt its fragile body...now a sensory memory...now all there is...all that's left...