She wrapped her soft arms around my cold body. Tears falling from her eyes again. I wanted to hug her back. I was just a stuffed dog. Fake fur, cotton inside, two small black eyes.

Charlotte had lost everything in her. Her hope, her happiness, and her will to live. All she felt she had was me. A stuffed, fake, worthless, limp dog. But late at night, when the school day has drained almost all the life out of her. She crawls her lifeless body into bed. I’m waiting for her, to help her. Lottie holds me tight. I can feel alive. When I look into her soft brown eyes, I hope she knows that I’m here. I’m staying. I’ll never leave. When her beautiful face is an ocean of tears because she can’t talk to anyone, I try to move. I need to tell her Im alive. I love her. I need her to stay. I need her to be alive again too. I need to tell her someone is here. I am staying.