Where's Jas?
Heartbreak hides behind a mother’s smile
Finally home after a morning outing,
with a sigh, she rests her head against the steering wheel,
allowing herself a minute for the overwhelming sadness to consume her.
With tears streaming down her face,
she takes a second to remember her furry friend.
A cry from her sick son in the back seat snaps her back.
No time to grieve,
she has to keep going.
She hides under her disguise —
a thin, fabricated smile —
and gets out of the car.
***
A mum has lost her feline companion of thirteen years,
a friend she had before a husband and child.
But she forgets,
a little boy has also lost his playmate.
***
She pushes through.
She reads all his favourite stories,
sings songs,
plays games.
Behind her vacant stare,
she carries her pain.
***
Every now and then,
the little boy turns to her and asks,
“Where’s Jas?”
and she’s lost in a wave of sadness again.
“She’s gone, sweetheart,
she’s not coming back.”
***
They play more games,
sing more songs,
and the little boy asks again,
“Where’s Jas?”
He’s just too young to understand death.
***
When her son’s not looking,
the mother dabs tears from her eyes
and washes her face with cold water,
wondering, how many more days or weeks
she’ll have to endure
this painful question.
About the Creator
Sandy Gillman
I’m a mum to a toddler, just trying to get through the day. I like to write about the ups and downs of parenting. I’m not afraid to tell it like it is. I hope you’ll find something here to laugh, relate to, and maybe even learn from.
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Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
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Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
On-point and relevant
Writing reflected the title & theme
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
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Comments (16)
You’ve written grief not as a grand tragedy but as a quiet endurance, and that honesty makes it unforgettable. It’s a soft echo that lingers after reading.
Poignantly beautiful… so sorry about Jas, she looks gorgeous. Our cat of 18 years has used up about 13 lives! We’ve sad so many “Goodbyes”. Take care.💖
So sorry for your loss!!❤️
Sorry for your loss Sandy!
I wish I could reach through the screen and give you a giant hug. I hope somehow you get the time and privacy to have a very good cry. You are such a good Mama.
So sad. Hugs, I know how hard this is to go through, Sandy
My eyes had tears as I read your poetry. Animals are our family.
I think people underestimate the grief that comes with pet loss...the same grieving process applies for human loved ones. Soo well said.
So sorry you lost your friend and companion. My last pet passed two weeks after my first husband did. I'm not likely to get another. It's too sad when they go. My heart aches for you. The best you can do is focus on what you DO have. All the best. 😢💗
Oh Sandy its so heartbreaking to read this. I can surely relate to the pain and grief. Stay strong Girl. All strength to you. @Sandy Gillman
It's so beautiful yet so very sad how you portrayed both the cry of your child and the cry from your soul. Its so sad that she went after thirteen years. We wish they could stay forever. I love how you included how easy it is to forget that the loss is not yours alone. Because of how powerful and all consuming, loss can be... In the end you still have to be a mom. Strong enough to read those stories and sing those songs. I feel for you. When your body mind and soul still needs to grieve. That question. I am so sorry that you have to hear it again and again. I am sure it makes the grieving that much harder. Sending you hugs, love and healing. This was fantastically, poetically, executed 🤗❤️
Sending hugs for your loss ❤️
I am so sorry, sending hugs. I felt your pain and how being a mom in this loss. I hope writing help heal and comfort.
man this is a heartbreaking loss for you and your son.
Omggg, I can only imagine how hard the devastation hits when he asks that again and again. I'm so sorry for your loss 🥺 Sending you lots of love and hugs ❤️
Oh my! This is so sad. Both for you and the repeating question that triggers the emotion all over again. So sorry for your loss, Sandy. Jas was beautiful. 💖