I Will Wait for You
There’s only so much my doggie heart can take

I will wait for you.
My loyalty knows no bounds. My tiny heart can barely contain my love for you, so you better believe it: I will wait for you.
Sometimes, waiting is all I do. I can’t eat, can’t drink, my gaze is fixed on the horizon, carefully scanning for your silhouette. Why did you leave me here?
I know it’s your parents’ house, or the sitter’s house, or your friends’ house. I’ve been here countless times before; you’d think I enjoy it, but my eyes are sad, and I get restless whenever the phone rings. Of all people, you should know how I feel — you’re anxious too. Like owner, like dog, they say.
I wait for you at home, too. Home is my safe place, as it is yours. I cuddle in between your favorite pillows, still fresh with your scent. When missing you gets really intense, I find relief in your fluffy slippers. Don’t worry, I won’t ruin them, I know better now. I’ll just lick them real good and imagine it’s you.
When I was really young, I was inconsolable. You brought me to your house and put me in a crate to spend the night. I howled as hard as my little lungs would let me — that’s how much I missed my siblings’ bodies pressed to mine. You kidnapped me, and now I love you. How does that work?
Slowly, I learned to trust you, and you taught me everything I know. You spent so much time with me back then, and I never had to wait for you. Then life changed, again and again, and I went wherever you went. We always had each other.
Some people ask you how come I’m so obedient, but I’m not. I can be a little cheeky at times. You answer by saying you did nothing special and that education goes a long way. So does love. Our trust is mutual, and our bond is strong. I know you’ll never break it.
You give me so much freedom to run around and explore, but I always come looking back for you; you’re my anchor. I see the corner of your eye always looking for me too. I’m forever printed in your mind.
My life is uneventful on most days. I blend in with the bed covers. I’m so quiet that you sometimes don’t even realize I’m there. Remember when you accidentally locked me in the balcony and then searched for me for hours, while I never said a word? I didn’t understand what all the fuss was about.
On days you go to work, I see you putting your scrubs on, and I know you’ll come back. I don’t mind — my energy is saved up for when you come home, so I can give you lots of kisses and run around with the sock I just stole from you.
But sometimes, you surprise me and put your outdoor clothes on. Boy, oh boy, do I get excited. We’re both lazy girls, but we sure love the woods. So let’s go, what are we waiting for? I’ll smell the grass and pee in twenty-seven places. You’ll slowly hike up the trail and stop to rest on that rock with a beautiful view.
When you’re around, I feel safe and warm. I let out a sigh of relief and smack my lips before falling asleep. I’m both drowsy and alert in case anything happens to you. You’re in my dreams.
I wish you could quit your stupid job so we can be together 24/7. You secretly wish for it too. You also wish hotels and restaurants stopped treating me like an animal. I have manners, you know.
But even if you have to go away from time to time, our life is pretty great, and I hope it never changes. I’ll keep waiting for you, even when you’re right here. You can never be too close.







