The reason I'm still here

When you’re in the darkness,

You don’t always see it

Until a little light finally shines in

And helps you see what was helping you stay.

I was always told "you need to “live for yourself”

The shrink that declared that clearly didn’t get it.

Cause there was no way I was sticking around for any of this.

So how and why am I still here?

There was no magic cure

No grand gestures

No declarations of love

In fact, there were no words at all.

There was just a paw,

Gently placed on my thigh

like the final piece of a puzzle

While I cried on the kitchen floor

Wishing tomorrow didn’t exist.

The subtle reminder

That someone will need to feed her

A simple task. But they may forget to give her a treat.

So I have to be there to do it.

And what if they try to pet her stomach?

They may not know she doesn’t like that.

So I decide to stay.

And instead of doing what I intended,

I go to bed.

And she comes too.

And then sun rises.

And I’m still alive.

And she’s tucked under my arm.

I can feel her sleepy purr recharging my soul.

to help me stay another day.

And now the light finally shines in,

I’m able to see that I’m only still here

Because of her.