- Don't stare at me that way. - I said. - Please don't stare at me that way. -
But those eyes won, as always , our battle. They wouldn't stop glaring at me. They had power over me, and I knew it.
Darn it.
- Fine, you win, as always. - I grimaced. She didn't need me to tell her, she knew.
She smiled. At least that's what it seemed to me it was. A smile. And I might sound crazy, or maybe ridiculous, but after you know a dog for 8 years, you usually know their expressions, or what every one of them are, and to me, that one face, the one she put after every battle she won against me, to me that was her smile.
I'll tell you, even though it hurts. But it's my honor to remeber, to tell you about her, to tell you about Shadow.
- So are you still not feeling well kid? - My mom yelled from the kitchen.
I hesitated, but then I looked at her, and my answer came out without doubt.
- No mom, I'm fine, I've just had a miracleous recovery. - I yelled back from my room as I sighed and looked at my dog. My best friend.
- Get ready then! You'll be late for school!-
- Fine. You win this time, but it's your fault if the teacher asks for the homework I didn't do yesterday. -
I looked one more time at her, smiled, and got dressed for school.
School blurred by as always, I didn't exactly think in class, I just waited to get home.
- I'm home!- I shouted as I slammed the door. Of course the first one to receive me was her. Shadow.
- Hello there pretty girl. How was your day? Because my day wasn't so peachy you know?- And she saw my face change from a smile, to a stern look.
- Well yeah, I know it was my fault for not doing the homework, but you could've helped me out you know. -
She frowned.
- Yeah, yeah, do the right thing. Right, whatever Shadow, let's go get some food. -
she followed me to the kitchen, and she layed at the foot of my chair. As always.
-Hey mom, can I go out with Tommy tonight? 'Cause we want to go skateboarding to that one parking lot, yeah, you know the one by Mr. Chapman's candy shop. Ok. Ok. Yeah. Yes mom I know. Yeah, of course Shadow is coming. Ajam... ajam... allright mom. Thanks. Yeah take care. Love 'ya. Bye mom. -
I hanged up the phone and looked at my best friend.
- Let's go Shadow. -
It was like that you know. Every afternoon.
She was my best friend, and she understood everything I said. And somehow, i understood her too. She was like my concience, and she was the one who led me through right and wrong. Yeah, don't ask how, I don't know either, but it worked, and as long as her fifteen year-old stayed good, mom didn't mind Shadow being in the house all the time.
When I was seven my parents surprised me with Shadow. I worked hard to train her, but she learned fast, she was a smart dog.
We had gone trough so many things together. Moving. New schools. New friends. New towns. Etc. And we had stuck together, she always drying my tears after waving my hands at the town I left behind.
As my teenager years started, she was there.
And things hadn't changed much. But that one day, that one day changed my life.
We got home from Tommy's. And suddenly Shadow froze.
Mom took her to the vet. I mean, I knew she was sick. But was the moment NOW?
The vet answered that question. With that one answer I didn't want to hear.
It boomed in my ear. I shouted, but I knew she would suffer.
I had always hated needles. And now I hated them more.
I said goodbye to Shadow. And cried. Heck yes I cried. I bet the vet got a mop out after we left.
She was better off now. But was I?
So sad to lose someone you love so much. A friend, family, or even a pet. But life has to go on. Things happen. And Shadow gave me some of the best years of my life.
And now I am grown, and I still miss her. I leave this letter to you, please don't throw it away allright. I hope it stays where I put it, that the wind doesn't blow it. Thank you for understanding why I haven't visited, and I hope you remember Shadow. She was that dog I had when you weren't there.
Your loving son.