My Sister

We were inseparable

If I didn’t follow her into a room, she’d follow me into one

Our warm bodies staved off the icy fangs of the outside world

We could sleep at ease in each other’s embrace

Our noses touching, we could look each other in the eye and silently say

I love you, sister

Then came the dreaded day seven years in the making

She didn’t understand what was happening, but somehow, she knew I was leaving her

She looked up at me with crystal eyes as I gazed back at her, bloodshot from tears

And we held each other one last time before I disappeared

On that fateful eight hour journey, I felt part of my soul being left behind

I entrusted her with it, to hold and to cherish

Silly girl, I dare say she safekeeps it in a cardboard box

Her picture frame takes prevalence above all others, the only one to live in my new home

Now, I can only see her through a screen

Can no longer wrap my arms around her, smell her hair, play with her, exist with her

I can only hope she does not forget about me in my absence

I fear the day I come home and she does not recognize me

I can’t help thinking I abandoned her

If only she could speak

I would tell her

I miss her tickling whiskers

I miss her fur that smells like a cozy blanket

I miss her pink and black nose, shiny with snot

I miss her glinting emerald eyes

I miss her purr, a vibrant motorboat

I miss her paw pads, soft to press

I miss her tail flicking in my face

I miss her claws softly kneading my stomach

I miss her chirping when I scratch behind her fuzzy ears

I miss her snaggletooth scowl when her lip gets caught in the cavity of her absent canine

I miss the white fur on her belly running through my fingers

And I feverishly count the days until

My soul will be complete again