mom is gone
the world is silent
except for the tip toes
of a trio of cats
she should be
getting ready for bed
but instead
she empties her heart out
to a cotton candy dog
a heart locket tied around its neck
“i love you”
it reads
but why should she believe it?
mom isn’t home
mom and grandma
and brother and dad are
the only ones who say those words
this bundle of blush pink fluff
and worn limbs cannot mean
what it displays
but,
it has held her
like a mother
and cradled her
like a grandma
and laughed with her
like a brother
and embraced her
like a father
so,
maybe she should believe it
because mom won’t always be here
nights will turn to days
days will turn to weeks
and then,
who will be there to tell her
“it’s okay”
it could be brother
or grandma or dad
but not always
sometimes it will have to be
the curly haired rosy puppy
with a black ribbon
and torn skin