The one I love dearly

When it comes to this theme,
I cannot think of anyone but him.

I thought about writing about other things or places,
but I just couldn't put my heart into it.
I couldn't finish writing it.

After all,
I will write about Domas.

I want to leave all of my love
for Domas here.

When I wake up in the morning,
Domas is sleeping at my feet.

Every time I see him sleeping like he owns the place,
using half of the bed
without hesitation,

as if it were only natural,
I can't help but chuckle.

Domas was a rescue dog.

For a while after he came to our home,
he wouldn't leave his cage
due to his wariness.

And yet,
about a month after we welcomed him,
he started howling from inside his cage
early in the morning.

"I wonder why he's crying."

One day, when I was worried about the neighbors,
my husband, who has experience living with dogs, said,

"Maybe he's lonely?"

Ever since then,
Domas has slept
in our bed.

In the days I spend with Domas,
there is one thing I find mysterious.

It is that people can truly connect
with non-human beings
without using words.

Domas doesn't speak.

But,
with his gestures,
and his straight gaze,

he is always talking to us.

"What are you eating?"

"Is there some for me?"

"Just a little bit is fine,
could you give me some?"

"Why won't you give me any!"

Gradually,
the pressure increases. lol

Domas, who was a stray dog, has a very strong obsession with food.
Watching him,

I think that he must have spent a long time
desperate to survive.
Thank you for surviving those harsh days

and coming to our family.
Such gratitude
suddenly wells up in my chest.

When we welcomed Domas,
he was estimated to be about a year and a half old.

So we
don't know what Domas was like as a puppy.

He must have been cute.
White,

and fluffy.

Wanting to see that,
I asked ChatGPT,

and even had it create an image like this. lol

Then, a while later,
a person who used to be a staff member at the rescue dog organization
sent us a photo of Domas when he was about 9 months old.

The joy our family felt
when we saw that photo was immense.

"He was so chubby
and innocent back then."

While having that conversation,
we looked at the photo many times.

Domas
gently adds color
to our lives.

And,

he always brings us
a peace that cannot be put into words.
I intended to write

about my obsession,
but it might be me

who is receiving the love.
I am participating in a project for the membership of Kaze no Boushi (Introspective Essayist).


Thank you for helping me

realize once again what is precious to me.