Hamsters and Night Lights

It was a rough afternoon yesterday.

So different from the day we brought Buddy home

for my daughter's birthday last year.

All of life's questions wrapped up

in one little lifeless furball.

I try to keep the answers simple.

We talked about life and death, faith and heaven.

We've done so before but this was different.

And the questions kept coming.

No vague answers would do.

She wanted specifics.

It went on all evening,

long after we had said our goodbyes to him.

I cried at times .

I don't think she saw.

She was sad but seemed content.

I discovered this morning she had turned on

her bedroom light in the middle of the night.

Something she hasn't done in a really long time.

He was a good hamster.

We miss you Buddy.