Dear Poki,

It has been more than 40 days since I last got to see you and it will be another few months before I see you again.

Every time I leave for school (or in this case for Spain), you are the hardest goodbye. While I can talk to my mom on the phone and text her, I can’t exactly pet you through FaceTime without looking like a weirdo. It also wouldn’t be the same.

I don’t think I ever understood the whole ‘pet and human bond’ thing until we adopted you. Sure, I loved all of my previous pets dearly, but I don’t think that any of them had the same type of closeness with me as you do.

You’re almost as antisocial as I am, and you’re just as weird. You have a sassy personality and you hold grudges like any petty human would (especially after I give you flea baths). You’re practically me in a small, furry, striped feline body.

During our first eight months together, when I would open the door from the garage into the living room, you’d be right there waiting for me on the back of that white chair, ready to let me boop your nose.

During our entire three years together, I’ve seen you fail miserably at being a cat (you’re terrible at sticking landings and judging the distance between objects), you’ve lived through four different houses, lived with three different dogs, and you have grown into my furry best friend.

Though it’s kind of annoying, I do love getting home from work at 12:30 and having you waiting in the kitchen for me, ready to play tag around the house. I love the times when you decide to sit on my lap, even if only for a few seconds. I love that you purr when I just lay my head down next to you on the couch.

I miss your perfect little nose, your tummy chub, your kitty-litter covered feet (I’d miss them more without the kitty-litter), your soft gray fur, your animated expressions/reactions, and your ability to make even the worst days just a little bit better.

I know that you’ll never read this, and that every human who does read it will probably think I’m a little insane, but I just wanted to remind you that I love you so much, even from across the Atlantic Ocean.

You, Poki Doki, Poka Dot, My Best Pal, are always on my mind. I am so excited to live with you again this year, in an apartment, where I can hug you as much as I want.

Love and 100 nose-boops,

Your Human

P.S. I know there’s some sort of psychological reason you have for doing so, but if you could stop peeing on my bed whenever I let you get on it, I would greatly appreciate it.

P.P.S. While we’re here, could you also stop getting kitty-litter all over every bit of floor within a two foot radius of your litterbox?