Miss Dottie continued, “You know, it’s okay to love something so much you want to keep it safe forever. But part of loving is knowing when to say goodbye. It doesn’t mean you love them any less.”
Junie’s eyes brimmed with tears, and I felt a lump in my own throat. I saw the world through her eyes for a moment, where goodbyes were baffling and seemed unfair. I put a hand on her shoulder and said, “Junie, sometimes our friends have to leave us, but we can hold onto the good memories. Clove will always be special to you, no matter what.”
Miss Dottie smiled wistfully. “How about this: Clove can visit you every day, but she’ll stay here with me at night. That way she knows she’s loved by both of us. When the time comes, we’ll make sure she’s comfortable, alright?”
