I Love You Way Too Much

I didn’t mean to scare you.
I really didn’t.

I was just tired in a way I had never been before. The kind of tiredness where barking feels heavy and even squirrels fade into the background.

But I knew you were there.
I always knew.

I heard your voices before I could lift my head. I smelled home on you. I felt your hands, your warmth, your tears falling onto my fur. That part — I wish I could have stopped. I never liked when you cried. It messed up my tough-girl image.

I wanted to wag. I tried. My body didn’t listen, but my heart did.

You sang to me. You held me. You told me I was brave, even though we all knew I had never been brave — I was bossy, loud, dramatic, and opinionated. Bravery just happened to look like letting go this time.

When you told me it was okay to rest, I believed you.
You had never lied to me before.

So I closed my eyes knowing I was loved ridiculously, stubbornly, forever.

Don’t worry — I took my sass with me.
And yes, I’m still watching.
Someone has to keep an eye on squirrels.

Love,
Bella 🤍🐾