A Ferret’s Absence

“Death ends a life, not a relationship”-Mitch Albom

 I let this settle.

 It sounds right and I want it to be right,

But can it? 

When you lay dead, so still that I hopefully wonder if you're just asleep

Would I be the same? Would my memory

 still have the same fondness and joy,

 Filled with how you would run and jump, following me around,

 playfully attacking my legs, and licking my face.

Dragging socks and water bottles twice your size.

Filled with prideful satisfaction,

as it was some sort of victory.

Or would it be of your absence,

–your cold soft body in my hands?

In the storm of these sour thoughts,

one peculiar crosses my mind

In the afterlife would you even want our relationship?

What was our relationship to begin with?

Trapped pet and human that you were forced to make a connection with?

Once you see a better place, would you even want to see me again?

Hopefully you do, I sure want to see you again once you're gone.

And while you're still here with me,

every year is terrifying. As you grow older and slower

I wonder

How much time is left? What would I even do after you leave?

I know your absence would be a hole, something as catastrophic as a natural disaster.

But isn't that love—

 to hurt and burn with such strong passion?

How would I live without your calming presence?

As silent as you are,

Your silence is louder than words.

As you dart and twist in the floor

bouncing around, running under furniture,

you seem so happy. 

Maybe it’s true death ends a life, not a relationship.