Every morning, I wake up in the same spot where you left me. The sun rises, painting the sky with shades of gold, and I tell myself, “Today is the day you’ll come back.” My eyes scan the horizon, my ears perk up at the sound of every passing car, and my heart leaps with hope when I hear footsteps. But it’s never you.
I don’t understand why you left. Was it something I did? Did I bark too much? Chew on something I shouldn’t have? I remember the way you used to laugh when I clumsily chased after a ball, the way your hand felt so warm on my head as you said, “Good boy.” I thought we were happy. I thought I was enough.
But now, the days blend into each other, and the nights stretch on forever. The cold seeps into my fur, and the hunger gnaws at my belly, but nothing hurts more than the emptiness in my chest. I can still see your face in my mind, the way you looked at me before you drove away. I thought it was a mistake, that you’d come back as soon as you realized I wasn’t in the car.
So, I wait.
I sit by the side of the road, in the very spot where you said goodbye. Each car that passes stirs a flicker of hope in me, but when it’s not you, the weight of disappointment grows heavier. Strangers sometimes stop to offer me food or water, and while I’m grateful for their kindness, I only want you.
The sky turns gray today, and rain begins to fall, but I don’t move. The water soaks my fur, but I stay rooted in place, watching, waiting. I’ve memorized the sound of your engine, the way your car used to rumble up the driveway. I’ll know it when I hear it.
Do you think about me? Do you miss me the way I miss you? I imagine you coming back, calling my name, wrapping me in your arms. I imagine running with you again, feeling your love like I used to. But each night, when the street grows quiet and the stars come out, I realize you’re still not here.
The world feels big and empty without you. I’ve seen the seasons change since you left. The leaves turned from green to orange, then fell away, leaving the trees bare. The air grew cold, and now it carries the scent of spring. Time moves on, but my heart stays in that moment, hoping, waiting.
If you came back, I wouldn’t ask why you left. I wouldn’t be angry. I would just be happy to see you again. I would wag my tail so hard it would hurt, and I’d run to you as fast as my legs could carry me.
But if you don’t come back, I’ll still be here. Every day, every night, this will be my spot. Because you’re my person, and no matter how long it takes, I’ll wait.
Even if the world forgets me, I’ll never forget you.
