What Can I Say

Dear Delilah,

I see you there,

On the bed, 

Next to Grace.

You are teaching her what we can't help her to understand. 

I am grateful.

I miss you every day, and though I love her,

Grace makes it harder sometimes. 

She is not you. 

I still have a hole in my heart. 

I hope you know that I will never replace you. 

I just can't live without someone like you. 

You are gone, but not lost to me. 

You visit me,

you taught me. 

I protected you, but you guarded me. 

I love you. 

I will see you again. I promise, a promise that I swear I won't break. 

We are sharing some of your things with her. I hope you don't mind. 

We did save some things, like your mitten. You loved your mitten. 

Your countless demands I would not mind fulfilling now. 

 I am sorry that I never picked you up or helped you down the stairs

I should have, but my mind messed me up,

taught me the wrong thing,

to see germs in everything. I have always regretted that. 

You know that even though she looks nothing like you, 

I feel a kindred spirit in her. Thank you for everything. 

I thought I could never love again after you, but I can. 

Grace was a miracle brought by your angel wings. 

Sometimes I hear footsteps and I turn and think it is you

It is only Grace, but then, 

Grace is important and loved in this house. I love her. 

I have oceans of love because of you. 

I will forever miss your little paws, but I will live. 

You are how I learned to Lhasa love.