Dear Daisy,

As I’m writing this letter the anniversary of your departure is fast approaching: August 13th - otherwise known as the day my heart shattered. So much has happened in a year and there have been so many moments when I could've used one of your understanding looks. Losing you has been the hardest thing I have ever had to go through, and despite the time passed it hasn’t become any easier. I just want to write you this letter to say thank you.

Daisy thank you for all the times you laid your head on my lap.

You were a very stoic dog, but you knew how much I needed comforting and you did bring me so much comfort. You were there for me when I lost another important figure in my life, you were there when I moved to a strange place and left behind everything, you cared for me when my heart was broken, and you were always my friend when I had none.

Thank you for all the late night sobs.

I know I often kept you up, but you never left my side. Instead you’d nuzzle your head on my shoulder, or kiss away my tears. You allowed me to hug (more like strangle) you as I sobbed into your chest, and you never pulled away. I can never thank you enough for that.

Thank you for loving me when I was unlovable.

There were points in my life where I wanted nothing more than to shut the world out, but you always found a way into my room. You would just sit there as a constant reminder that I was never as alone as I thought I was.

Thank you for being the best friend a girl could have.

Growing up I never held onto friends well, and often times the ones I managed to keep were never real friends. So most weekends I found myself alone, but you were always down to watch a dumb rom-com and eat popcorn, and never once did you judge my taste in movies.

Thank you for being mine.

I still remember the day you came to live with us. You were so scared and I remember our parents whispering, questioning if you were going to be a good fit. I sat down on the floor, and picked up a funny colored toy (which ended up being your “baby”), and just looked at you. It’s like you knew how much I needed you, because you came over and sat in my lap, and from that moment on you were mine just as much as I was yours.

If love alone could’ve kept you alive Daisy, you would’ve lived forever.

I think that was your only fault babe, that you lived such a short life. We have so many amazing memories together and that is why I will never forget you, because you were a huge character in a giant portion of my life. There is no string of words that I can put together to explain how much I love you, and how much it kills me knowing you are no longer physically here. My only solace is knowing that you are not truly gone, because you are still alive in my heart.

There are so many more things I could thank you for, and I only wish you could’ve stayed with me a little longer, but I know if the choice was up to you, you would still be here. You gave me a great couple years, and I only hope I gave you the best life possible.

So, until we meet again on Rainbow Bridge, I ask you to take care of Grandpa for me and just know that when you left me, you took a piece of my heart with you, leaving a hole that I’ve filled with all the memories we shared.

All the love and tears,

The friend you left behind