I remember you slinking into my bed when the thunderstorms roared

We put on a brave face for each other although we were both afraid

I watched as your long charcoal legs became nothing but a blur as you ran in the new spring grass

I couldn’t see past you when I leaned against you for support in the snow

I remember that You were always there to protect me

I felt your soft pink tongue against my cheeks lapping up the salty tears that rolled down my cheeks when I pressed against my sunburn

At the time it felt like the biggest problem that I would ever have to face

Little did I know that a few years later I see your legs scrambling along the floor to try to get a grip

I see you barely able to walk

Or eat

Or breath

You don’t have any energy

Because you spent it all on me when I needed you

I imagine you running like you used to

Running from my mom when she went ballistic after you played in the sky’s tears and tracked miles of mud behind you

Running when someone tried to capture your wrigiling body when it was time for a bath

Running in unison with another blacked eared monster that is now chasing squirrels in heaven

Running in the yard with me

Nothing makes me happier to see you run

But I know that I’m not going to see you run again

At least in this life

Your limp body lies on the floor after the vet came to put you down

We didn’t want you to suffer any longer

Even if it meant we would have to suffer more

You would have done the same for us

But I still want to see you run again one day

Run Trudy Run