Losing and Gaining

Today started off normal. I woke up, got ready for high school, got on the bus and went to school. I talked to my friends, as I always do in the morning, and then headed off to class when the bell rang.

I somehow knew when I was in 3rd period and got called down to the office for early dismissal that something was wrong. My parents wouldn't pull me out of school for nothing.

I grabbed all my stuff, hoping for the best and walked down to the office and saw my dad there with a distant look on his face. He looked at me and gave me a small smile and told me that we had to go.

I tried to ask what was going on but he just told me to hold on. We walked to the car and I noticed that there was a towel with a red stain on it bundled up in the back seat when I got in.

I looked over to my dad with wide eyes, my heart heavy, and expecting something I wasn't ready to hear.

I was right. Something was wrong. My dad had informed me that not too long ago my mom was taking some boxes out to her car and left the front door open on accident and my dog had ran out thinking she could go without supervision. She ran free for only a second before being hit by a car.

I sat back in the seat, feeling numb, with tears in my eyes and my throat tightening and asked if my baby girl was ok. My dad said that he doesn't know yet and that my mom was at the emergency vet clinic with her now and thats where we were headed.

That was 8 hours ago.

As I sit in the waiting room, tear stains on my cheeks and fresh tears budding in my eyes, I sit back in the uncomfortable chair and close my eyes. I take a deep breathe and let it out, attempting to think positively.

My phone was buzzing constantly since school had let out with messages from my friends probably asking questions. I had shut it off after 5 of them, not in the mood to talk.

I slightly sit back up again, opening up my eyes and think of all the happy memories I've had with my baby.

Flashback // 7 years ago

I smiled a toothy grin at the camera my dad was recording with for my 8th birthday, as my mom laughed because I had frosting on my face. "This is one of the best birthdays mom and dad!"

They smiled at me and my mom helped me clean my face up and then told me that there was one more surprise for me. My eyes lit up and I smiled and giggled happily. She covered my eyes and led me outside into our backyard.

When she took her hands away I looked and there she was. My new puppy. My dad was holding a little black and white husky with the bluest eyes I'd ever seen.

She was the cutest thing and I had the brightest smile on my face when my dad let her go, she came racing toward me as I crouched down and she licked my face.

I laughed and started petting and playing with her. My parents came up to me and asked what I was going to name her. I looked at her and she gave me a doggy grin with her tongue hanging out the side of her mouth.

"Aqua." I said after thinking of it, "I want to name her Aqua because she has really bright blue eyes."

I smiled as I thought of that day. It was the day I got my best friend who was there for me. Who played with me when I was happy. Cuddled with me when I was watching shows or movies. Comforted me when I was sad.

A few tears escaped my eyes and I hastily wiped them away. I took a deep breathe and then remembered another memory of her.

Flashback // 5 years ago