Dear Theo,
It has been a year since you left, and I still feel your presence everywhere. I wanted to write you this letter, not to say goodbye, but to let you know how much you meant to me—and still do.
You came into my life as a tiny, fluffy, curious bundle of fur, only eight weeks old. From that very first day, you filled my world with joy, adventure, and a kind of love I had never known before. Every day was an adventure with you. We jogged and walked, and on those warm, lazy afternoons, we would lie on the grass together, just watching the world go by.
Do you remember how I used to chase you? You always ran ahead with that playful gleam in your eyes. As you grew older I never minded waiting for you, no matter how slow you were. I’d wait forever if I had to.
You had a heart that was as big as it was gentle. You understood things that words couldn’t explain. Like the way you befriended the woman in a wheelchair, always sitting quietly by her side as if to say, “I’m here for you.” You played so tenderly with children, always careful, as though you knew how fragile they were.
And oh, your mischievous side! How could I forget the chaos you caused at training class? While the your classmates focused on their lessons, you were the ringleader, stirring up all kinds of trouble. Then, just when everyone thought you were beyond hope, you’d run back to your spot, sitting there like the perfect little angel. You always knew how to make us laugh, didn’t you?
But even you couldn’t outrun time. I remember the moment I noticed you were aging—when you hesitated at the stairs, unwilling to climb down from my bedroom to the main floor. It broke my heart to see you struggle. When you were unwell, I couldn’t leave you alone. I spent so many nights on the sofa in the living room, just to be close to you, to let you know that I was there.
We didn’t need words, did we? We spoke with our eyes. You listened to me, always, and never once complained. In return, I tried to listen to you too, to understand what you needed, to be there for you as much as you were for me.
Even now, as I sketch your face, I see you so clearly—the way your ears perked up when you were curious, the softness in your eyes, the tilt of your head that always made me smile. These sketches are my way of keeping you close, of preserving the memories of a life we shared so deeply.
Thank you, Theo, for being my partner, my teacher, and my best friend. You may be gone from this world, but you will never be gone from my heart. I carry you with me, always.
Until we meet again,
With all my love,
Pater
