I lost Puddles today.
No, not lost as in she can be found. Lost. Forever.
I sit on the bench under the ancient oak tree in our yard. “Have you ever lost someone?” I whisper to the tree. Branches sway, and leaves rustle in the breeze. “I’m sorry, tree. I lost someone too.”
I hear the jangle of a collar and panting breath. My heart races. Puddles dashes across the yard towards me and jumps up on my lap. I give her a good head rub just the way she likes. She licks all over my face.
“Puddles! I thought you were gone!”
She inches her way up my chest and snuggles. I hold her warm body tight against me, and her heart beats in time with mine.
“You scared me little girl,” I breathe in her ear. “Don’t ever leave again, promise? I love you so much.”
Momma sits on the bench beside us. She takes my hand and gently squeezes.
I look at my lap. Puddles is gone.
Momma’s eyes are wet, like mine. She dabs her eyes with a tissue and offers one to me. We sit there for a long while, holding hands without saying a word.
She softly strokes my cheek and runs her fingers through my hair. I know deep down that everything will be okay.
Momma clears her throat and manages a smile. “Honey, I can’t take your sad away,” she says, her voice soft and low.
“But I’ll be by your sad. Today. Tomorrow. And the day after that. For as long as I need to be.”
