When I was a young girl, my parents brought home a husky and we decided to name her Roxy. She was very young when my parents brought her home. She was there and played with us. My father would have her chase us for fun and we'd laugh and run. She was always there. Last summer, she passed on.

To this day, I still do not forget when my father had told my mother and all she said was "oh, no". I knew what happened, because in those days leading up to her passing, her body hurt from her arthritis; it was a struggle for her to get up to move. She howled in pain and there was nothing we could do for her. We had no idea when she would pass, so I made sure she got our love, to tell her that we love her and we always will. We went outside altogether and met with my father who had discovered her.

My younger sister, my mother, and I cried together as my father and other sister gather shovels to dig a grave for her. I sat there, not wanting her to go forever. I cried and cried for a half hour. My father picked her up and carried her to her newly made grave. He allowed me to pet her one last time before we buried her. To this day, I can remember the touch of her soft fur on my fingers. It was a day I'll never forget.

A couple weeks ago, I had a dream one night. In the dream, Roxy returned to see me with another pet we had lost before her. She let me play with her and after a few minutes of playtime, she had expressed that she had to leave, go back to Heaven where she belongs. I did not want her to leave, but she did. The dream concluded and I woke up the next morning, feeling happy. I told my mother what I dreamt that night. She ended up telling me that Roxy was visiting me in the dream. My mother had several dreams like that, one being her grandfather. She was close to him and in the dream; he sang a song by Frank Sinatra to her.

After she had told me Roxy was visiting me, I was shocked. And it brought back the pain and sadness I felt the day she passed. It was like the feeling of her leaving was relived. I was also honored that she came to visit me in my dreams. My father has had several dreams of Roxy as well. He believes that she was visiting him as well. My mother deeply believes that she came to visit me and she comforted me when I started to cry again. It hurt when she had gone the first time and when she left in my dream, it brought back that sadness again. I cried for a little that day and my mother told me that Roxy loved us and that we will see her again in Heaven when it is our time to go.

I now believe that she visited me in that dream, because although I felt sadness that I had to experience her leaving again, I was happy to play with her while it lasted in the dream. It brought back memories as a child, growing up with her and being able to have her as a dog. I miss her terribly and she was one of the best dogs we ever had. I cannot wait to see her again, to play with her, and to see her lively spirit again. The dream also taught me that nothing lasts forever and enjoy other's company, because we do not know when they will pass or not be there anymore. Take the time to spend it with your close ones, so at the end, you will be happy with the memories you made with those close ones.