Evan Craig
You were in my dream again last night
Curled next to me like you used to
It was much too vivid
The rest of the dream around me made no sense
You were the only part worth remembering
When I woke up
You were no longer by my side
Typical
Leaving once more without a goodbye
My dreams are the only place you’ll ever visit me anymore
Maybe one day I’ll get over losing you
Maybe
Maybe not
Life’s not quite the same without you
You don’t greet me when I come home anymore
How rude!
You don’t kick me off the couch anymore
You seriously won’t share with me?
I haven’t seen you perched on your grassy throne lately,
Acting like you conquered the backyard
You were always the queen
Summoning us mere peasants to the sound of your voice
Why
Just why
Why did you ever have to get sick?
You were never supposed to lose all that weight
You were always supposed to be energetic
You’re my strong girl
You were
My strong girl
You were supposed to watch me continue to grow up
Much as I did for you
I watched you stumble over your own feet when you were younger
Showing everyone what you loved to play with most
We took you on road trips
You always enjoyed the company of your friend in the reflection
You were just so lively
You were
The day you decided to leave was difficult
You didn’t know what was wrong
Neither did we
We only knew you weren’t happy
You rested your head in my lap
Much as you did when you were just a baby
Somehow sensing this would be our last time
Together
I stroked your head
Gently guided my hand across your boney back
Each rub bringing attention to your flared rib cage
Anything to remember what you felt like
I wish I could’ve held you forever
But that would’ve been far too cruel
You never deserved all the pain you were in
You held it together like a champ
You are my strong girl
You were
Then you had to go
Internalizing all that suffering was finally killing you
So why
Just why
Why did you have to place all your pain onto me?
Our time together was far too short
Your only flaw really
Why must nature deal pets the cruelest of fates?
They come into our lives
Tug at our heartstrings
Until we’re eating out of their paws
Only for them to rip it out
And bury it somewhere in the yard
Time flies when you’re having fun I guess
Maybe I’ll see you again in my dreams tonight
Maybe
Maybe not
My only comfort is that you’re safe somewhere
In my dreams
A place where you’re never a stranger
Rest easy Katie Bugg
And sweet dreams
I’ll see you in the morning