To my dogs,

As the day I move out of the house grows closer, I think about what I wish I could tell you more and more every day. We've been here for so much of each other's lives and the thought of not living in the same house as you breaks my heart in a way that I'm sure you will soon become familiar with also, unfortunately. There are so many things that I wish I could get you to understand before I leave, but every time I try to let you know, you keep the same cheerful expression that you have every time I talk to you.

I've been around for every stage of your life, and you've been around for most of mine — up until this point.

I've watched you grow since you were a puppy and the thought of not being around all the time to see parts of your evolution makes wish more than ever that I could take you with me. At the beginning of your life, you were a completely different being than you are now. You were oblivious to the world around you, which still happens to you on occasion, but you're much more self-reliant now. Since you came into my life around the time I was entering middle school, you've seen me undergo the same transformation. You were around to watch me grow into the young adult I am today, and you've seen me experience the most important years of my life thus far. You were there to listen to the good times and the bad times and the times we don't tell mom about, and I can never thank you enough. Since I won't be able to come home every day and talk things over with you, I guess that job will temporarily shift to my roommate, but I'll never replace you. Also, I'll make sure to fill you in every time I get to come home and see you.

I love you so much, and I would never even think about replacing you with another dog.

I know every time I leave the house your suspicion grows as to how loyal I really am, but I promise I'm not going to find another dog when I move out. You hold a special place in my heart, and I promise I'm not out finding another dog to take your spot.

I'll make sure everyone knows your preferences before I leave.

I'll make sure everyone in the house is aware of how you like to be tucked in, what T.V. shows are your favorite, and what kinds of food you like to be secretly be fed. I'll let them know these things because I don't want you to feel lonely when I'm not around to do these things for you. Hopefully, they don't just sweep your preferences under the rug because over the years I've learned how important these rituals really are to you.

You're going to be the thing I look forward to seeing most when I come home.

Everyone else that I'll miss will be able to call or facetime or even drive to come and see me if they want to. Sadly enough, you don't understand English, and you can't drive, so I can't expect the same from you. Despite the fact that we won't be able to talk whenever you want, you will still be the most welcoming when I come home. I know your reaction to my arrival will be the greatest display of unconditional love that anyone has ever seen and I can't wait for that day. I can't even put into words how much your love means to me. We've always been best friends, and I'm sorry that this is what I have to do. If I had the option to bring you along, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

Don't worry too much about me being safe.

I promise that in the next year I won't make any decisions you wouldn't agree with. I promise to keep myself safe, and I hope you do the same for yourself. So don't spend your time worrying about what happened to me because I promise I'm having a great time and I'll be home as often as I can to check in with you.

Love,

Your best friend.