Luke warm tea. I miss her. Empty kitchen. Empty.

I made hot tea, with half and half.

It was hot, then it was cooled after hours sitting on the wooden table.

I felt like the tea in the huge mug.

Unfulfilled and not the correct temperature. I drank it anyway.

Standing in the kitchen, I looked at your home.

It had everything you needed and wanted, now pushed to the side.

We have your ashes in the urn, and your paw print and tail print lovingly next to your old home.

Not that it really shows the imprint on my heart. On my son’s heart. The collective imprint of everyone—

The way she stood by us through thick and thin.

Over years and each day,

Through a cross country journey from our home in California back to The Midwest, you never wavered

Or complained,

You stayed with us till the end.

I used to pet you, and carry you,

And you were like a lizard version of a dog, but even better

Because you ate insects

and were cool and didn’t make too much noise,

When my son had to do school remotely due to the pandemic

You were there watching him, keeping him company

And watching me too,

Cook and clean.

When you passed, we didn’t believe it.

We thought you were in brumation,

A sad state of confusion as you were also old,

And we took care of you,

At the end,

I still pet you,

Wishing you were here.

Rest In Peace, Cutie, our bearded dragon 🐉

You were our family,

And you’ll be in our hearts forever.

Being in the empty kitchen now,

I sip my tea,

Wishing I could see your clear vision

Peeking back at me,

But it’s all lukewarm,

And I feel a bit empty.