Left Us

Two years have come and
they have gone, without her
by our side, where she belonged
but is no longer there. We have
come to reluctant terms with the
reality of her yet painful absence
from our lives. Oh -- she is still
here, a small black ghost of
the vibrant little animal she was
once, complementing our lives,
imbuing our shared experiences
with the meaning of cross
species bonding and just plain
love and trust. Gone, never
forgotten in dim recollection.
And we have learned to manage
our wistful grief at her loss;
philosophical, we finally tell
ourselves, Except when we meet
people now who still ask where
our shadowy companion is, and
we wince the explanation: left us,
two years ago, aged nineteen.