Swee-Dreams

I awoke this morning with the familiarity of calico fur lovingly surrounding my toes as Bonita snuggled against my feet. And I could hear his breathing. When I turned and opened my eyes, he was standing beside my bed like he has so many mornings, a huge smile framing his two new front teeth. He moves over the edge of the bed and leans in to kiss me. His breath smells of sleep but I don't turn away and let him kiss me.

"Goo-mornen' lil' pumpkin" I say.

"Goo-mornen' Mommy. Did you have swee-dreams?"

I pause for a moment to try and remember. I remember a guitar playing. Shoulders moving in rhythm. Laughter. Silence. Being in a place I longed to be and never wanting to leave. I remember leaving. Then, the sound of what must have been a million birds singing in the early morning. A breeze from an open window cooling the heat of the early evening from my face. And tears that will never have words attached to them.

I tell the truth and I tell a lie.

"Yeah. Ya know pumpkin. I always have the bestest dreams."

He believes me.