Going to bed now is incredibly hard
When I think about how cold it is for her buried out in the yard.

At bedtime, I would pick her up and take her with me to bed.
I still have to stop myself from searching for her and then I remember - she's dead.

She was my sleep buddy for 21 years.
To this day, I can't lie down without being in tears.

She would snuggle up next to me and we would spoon.
Now I look out my window and say goodnight to her grave lit up by the light of the moon.

I feel as if my heart is being ripped from my chest.
How long this pain is going to last I can only guess.

I hate going to bed and stay up long into the night
Doing anything to avoid that painful space of time before daylight.

Vicki Cheek
RIP Smokey Cat
December 6, 2015