Dear eema,

I was watching you as you smoked your More cigarette while you watched me as I pet my sleeping dog, Lucy. Lucy was diagnosed with kidney disease nine months back but after some treatment and with Peter and I "loving her back" - she continued to remain with us for a full nine months. A healthy nine months full of belly rubs, squeaky toy chasing and squirrel gazing.  

Now, I know that you loved me and that you loved Lucy so you weren't being cruel in that moment when, after taking a long drag of your cig, you calmly declared, "First Lucy goes... then me." 

I told you not to talk like that as I hugged my dog tighter not wanting to face the day that I would lose her. And you. 

Two weeks later Lucy was gone. 
Six weeks after that, so were you. 

And there's no loving either of you back, is there? 

Just in case... I'll keep trying. 

xo,
annie


Lucy and eema - together then. together now. 
(c) photos by annie wood