Cairo knew I Was Thinking

Cairo knew I Was Thinking 

By: Somi Philip Chempothara –  Ysomi 

Cairo, He came to me slowly wagging his tail 

not in need,

but in knowing.

A soft weight by my foot,

a blink that asked,

Are you still here, even if your heart isn’t?

I hadn’t said the name aloud,

but the name lived in the quiet ache of my spine,

in the way I stirred the tea

without sipping it,

in the sigh I didn’t mean to release.

Cairo knew.

He didn’t bark.

He didn’t beg.

He just shifted closer,

a breath against my ankle,

a promise I didn’t ask for

but needed.

Later,

when I corrected him gently

not angry, just distracted

he still sought comfort

the only way he knew how.

Because even little souls

can feel when they’ve been

momentarily replaced.

But oh, how he forgave.

With eyes that said,

I know you love me. I just know today…

you were missing the one..

So I picked him up,

kissed the top of his worried head,

and whispered,

“I love you too, little one.

You’re the one who stayed.”