Home Is Where You Are

by Melissa Grace

“I know you didn’t like me much, Mama,” I said to her, “but I guess I came to love you and your ornery ways. I need you to look after Liv, okay? I love her so much, Mama. She’s my whole world, and I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I don’t know how I’m supposed to live without her.” Mama tilted her head as though she was considering what I was saying. I dropped my head into my hands, my shoulders shaking. I felt a soft thud beside me followed by the touch of a tentative paw on my leg. I looked up to see Mama’s knowing eyes searching mine. I reached my hand out to her, and for the first time, she didn’t run. She didn’t flinch. Instead, she leaned her face into my hand, rubbing against my fingers. I stroked my hand down her back softly, and without warning, she put her front paws on my arm and reached up to nudge my face with hers. “I’m gonna miss you too,” I whispered. She purred her reply as my phone pinged with a text signaling that Dallas was here. The pit in my stomach grew because I knew that meant it was time for me to leave. I placed a soft kiss on Mama’s head. “Take care of her, Mama.”