You were gone

A girl walked through rows of dirt mounds, souls laid there with no name or honor. She stopped at a small one covered in daisies, and kneeled.

“I opened my eyes and saw how the world had crumpled. The sky was red, and the air was dusty, it was hard to breathe. I had been running from the police for nearly two weeks.

“Then, I found you. You were so small, covered in dirt, and with the messiest hair ever. You padded up to me and yapped quietly, almost nervously and licked my ankles, making me laugh for the first time in weeks.

“You had no collar, no mark, and you were so thin. I knew we’d help each other.

“I brought you to my place, it, like us was tiny and a mess. I scrubbed you clean and brushed your hair out. You made the funniest faces. Oh how I miss the faces you made.

“I named you Rex, you’re a little king.”

The girl paused for a minute, choking back a sob and brushing her hair out of her face as she looked around and made sure no guards were near.

“I remember one day, we were out getting food and you got into a disagreemnt with a skunk. I had to bathe you for hours in the river until the city guards found us and we had to run again. I think you still smelled bad for weeks after.”

She giggled quietly, tears pouring freely.

“You didn’t have to go you know? You could’ve stayed with me. You could’ve run and let me get hit. You were always such a brave little fella.”

She patted the pile of dirt and placed a handmade flower toy onto it.

“Remember when I made you this? I promised I’d never let you get hurt. I promised I’d protect you from them, and you licked me, and I knew you promised the same. I just didn’t think you’d get hurt...

“I still remember the day it happened. It’s been months, but it feels like yesterday. We were out getting water, and you saw something in the river, it was a necklace, I still have it with me...

“We spent a little too much time goofing off. You heard something and the city guards were there...

“They were more violent then usual that day”

The girl held up her left arm to reveal two missing fingers and a deep scar.

“They started shooting, and they brought out their dogs. We made it to the end of the wood when they caught up to us. Rex, you were so brave. You started barking and we ran further, I thought you fell behind.”

She placed a turquoise collar on the pile.

“And when I looked again, you were gone.”