For the best friend that never left my side:
I miss you. A lot. You stayed with me through everything, smiling and ready for all the adventures. I wish I'd taken you on more. I don't remember meeting you, but I have pictures of you and I in our home in New Mexico, your fluff uncontrollable. I remember us running around the backyard of our home in North Carolina, you chasing me or your tennis ball, not caring if Dad had accidentally run it over with the lawn mower. You were protective and playful at the same time. It was your instinct to herd me back home when it was time. And when you thought my friends were being to rough with me, you grabbed them by their clothing, never catching skin and pulled them back to tell them to stop. I don't think you'd have had the guts to actually bite someone. You had such a good nature.
And when you went to Mom's room every morning on the weekdays like clockwork to tell her it was time to wake me up it was astonishing. You'd run upstairs and find her either getting ready for work in her bathroom or in her office already working and tell her it was time to get us up. She'd walk with you over to my room and you'd jump on my bed, trampling me in the process, trying to find my face in my mess of covers and pillows till you finally found my face to lick it till i woke up enough. I hid my face then, but I'd give anything in the world to have those moments back. Especially since they ended with about half an hour of just laying there in my bed, cuddling till it was absolutely time for me to get ready for school.
I miss everything about you, but I think there's one thing I miss the most right now is the way you always comforted me. You always knew when I just needed you around. You'd curl up at my feet if I was sitting at the table or on the couch. When I sat on the floor, you'd either come up and rest your head on my shoulder, sat by my side resting against my legs or you'd lay down, curled against me, and just slept. And I didn't appreciate that enough when you were around; when I could pet you and feel you breathe as you slept. I miss your comfort and how you loved me so unconditionally. People don't love the way that you did.
You know, I haven't been able to go by where we put you. Next to the fence where you could do your perimeter checks like you did every time we let you outside as long as it wasn't raining. I can't go to see you because I hate that you're gone. I hate that you lived a long life that wasn't long enough. I hate how selfish I sound saying 15 years with you wasn't enough. I hate that when I pulled the leash from the closet for the last time, you weren't running to the door, ready to go for a walk or ride. I hate that I can leave the back gate open and not worry that you can get out, even though I know you'd never run away because you wouldn't leave the street. I hate that when I walk into the house, you aren't there to greet me, wiggling your butt because you didn't have a tail to wag.
I miss you so much, and living without my best friend is one of the hardest things I've had to do. If I ever find another dog half as good as you, I know I will be a very lucky human. You were everything a growing girl could've asked for. I love you so much. I hope you're happy and healthy where you are.
Sincerely,
The girl you gave your life to.
