Time gone by

Eric

Waking up this morning was hard, today it's been a year, a year without my love. I always knew today would be hard but I'm hoping I can use this day to celebrate the life Eric had and the life we had together.
I reach over for my phone and I've got texts from friends and family asking how I am? I didn't really know how to respond in all honesty.
I noticed a text from Seb, basically apologising for last night and asking me how I was feeling this morning. I just text back quickly to say I was okay and that I apologise for what I did last night too.
I walk out into the kitchen, head phones in listening to Eric's favourite song. Im wearing my vest top and my booty shorts as always. Im just sorting something for breakfast when I hear someone clear there voice, I jump and turn around and there is Chris, sitting up on the sofa watching me.
"Shit!!! I completely forgot you were here" I laugh out. Then I look down. Im barley wearing any clothes.
"Im just going to go put some clothes on" I run back to my room and grab some sweat pants and a jumper.
As I walk back in the kitchen Chris is now making some coffee.
"Sorry about that"
"No apologies needed. It's your house"
I laugh and he hands me a cup of coffee "I didn't add cream or anything cuz I don't know how you take it"
"Just black for me thank you. Did you sleep okay on the sofa?"
"Yes thank you. It's really comfortable"
"Yeah, when me and Eric bought it, he said he wanted something comfortable just in case we had an argument and he ended up sleeping on it" I smiled at the memory.
"Today is a year right?"
"Yeah it is"
"So what you got planned?"
"Well, I'm going to his grave. Leave some flowers, drink a beer with him and draw him a picture"
"A picture?"
"Yeah he joked when he was alive about him dying and me drawing on his gravestone every year he was gone. When he passed I actually was able to find a head stone you can do that too. He loved my drawings, I just saw them as doodles but he said I had talent. So I'm making his wish come true."
"That's pretty cool"
"Yeah, gives me sometime with him. To just sit and think. And then after that I'm off to work."
"You work on Sundays?"
"Not normally, but I kind of feel like today would be good day to hug lots of puppies"
"Sounds like heaven"
I just nod in agreement. I make us breakfast, nothing special just pancakes and bacon. I look at the time and it's already 11am.
"I'm just going to go get sorted for the day"
"Yeah I better get going. I've got a meeting at 12pm and I need to head home first."
"Okay, well thank you for walking me home last night"
"Thank you for letting me stay and for making me breakfast"
"Your welcome. I'll see you around"
"I'm sure you will. Bye Abbie"
"Bye Chris"
He walks out and I finished getting ready for the day. I know today is going to be rough but having someone to talk to this morning was kind of nice. Chris was a good guy and I enjoyed his company.

I made my way to Eric grave, I cleaned it up, poured the beer and sat down next to him. I just sat and talked about everything that has happened this year while I drew him a picture. It felt good to be near him again. I knew he couldn't answer me back but it felt good to be here. Once i finished, I saw I had been here for almost 2 hours.
"Baby, I have to go. I miss you so much and I love you. I always will forever and always. I'll see you again soon."
I walked away and headed over to the dogs home, I really needed to hug some puppies.
As I walk in I see Pete at the desk, he is the owner and he pops in from time to time. He was a lovely guy.
"Hey Pete"
"Hey Abbie, it's your day off isn't it?"
"Yeah, but I could do with sometime with the puppies if that's okay"
"Of course. Go ahead"
I gave him a kiss on the cheek and headed inside. He knew what today was so I knew he would be understanding.
As I'm sat surrounded by some of the most beautiful puppies in the world my phone goes off
'Hey Abbie, it's Chris. I got your number from Seb, hope that's okay. I know today will be hard for you so if you need to talk to someone feel free to give me a call'
That was very sweet of him. I send him a photo of me covered in puppies and write back 'thank you Chris. I'm currently surrounded by these beautiful things so for now I'm ok'
He wrote back instantly 'they are so cute. Puppy cuddles sound good right about now'
He must have had a bad meeting so I send him the address to the dogs home and tell him to pop by if he isn't busy.
I'm just sat morning my own business and playing when Pete comes in about 20 minutes later "there is superhero here to see you"
"A superhero?"
"Yeah the guy that plays captain America"
"Oh Chris. Yeah let him in"
Chris comes through the door and sits down with me "hello, omg there so cute"
"They really are. Bad day?"
"Yeah, stressful meeting to be honest"
"Well these guys are great at making stress disappear" I hand him one of our smallest and fluffiest pups and I can see him melt straight away. It makes me laugh, Eric used to do the same thing.
"You have a dog don't you?"
"I do, his name is dodger. Rescue dog"
"I've seen pictures he is so adorable"
"He is. And he knows it. Gets away with everything. You'll have to meet him one day"
"I would love too. I love dogs"
"Why don't you adopt one?"
"Me and Eric were going to but then the accident happened and I just haven't gotten around to it I guess"
"How was the visit?"
"It was good. Spend over 2 hours there and I felt better. Talking to him."
"That's good. I'm sure he loved having you there"
I just smiled and nodded and we spent the next couple of hours just playing with the puppies. We also bathed them and fed them. It felt good hanging out with a friend. It's what I definitely needed today.