Say You'll Remember Me

by Abby Jimenez

I did like dogs, though. I liked all animals, but especially dogs. We didn’t deserve them—and some people deserved them less than others.

She scrunched up her face. “I had hamsters.” She glanced at me. “Don’t be mad at me, but they all died premature deaths.” “Yes, they tend to do that,” I said. “Is that just a universal experience? Because everyone I know had a hamster who died in some tragic accident.”

“That there is nothing more beautiful than being a witness to someone’s life. To know them inside and out and be with them through everything, share the same memories. Memories are everything. I want that.”

“I think we grow up and we either get harder or we get softer on our parents. We realize how fucked up they actually were or we give them a pass because adulting is hard and now we get it. They’re people and they make mistakes.”