Missy Cat

It doesn’t feel real.

You were there basically my whole life,

padding in and out of my days

like you always knew where you belonged.

You were my best friend,

my best cuddle buddy,

soft fur and steady purrs

after long afternoons outside.

Now the yard feels too quiet.

The garage door stays closed longer than it should.

I still am waiting for you

to come home.

Where did you go?

Did you go on your last big adventure—

following a scent only you could understand,

trusting the world one more time?

I didn’t get to say goodbye.

You left the way you lived:

on your own terms,

without asking permission.

I just want to see you once more,

to know the sky was kind to you,

that the earth felt familiar beneath your paws,

that you weren’t afraid.

If love could keep you close,

you would’ve come home again.