Besties

Forever and Ever

Dear Bestie,

Though I was a teddy bear and you were innocent, sweet little girl, we had a lot of common. We both experienced tremendous amounts of pain in our lives. The difference was I wore my suffering as a second skin, but you hid it well.

I remember the first time I saw you genuinely sad.

I laid next to you while you doodled on a blank sheet of paper. Circles, triangles, diamonds, and hearts completely covered the page. You took the drawing to the next level by utilizing a pack of multi-colored markers that you found. Streaks of red, blue, pink and green ran through your piece of art. It was a beautiful mess.

You smiled, admiring your work. You looked at me and asked "Do you think mommy and daddy will like my picture? I think it is really pretty."

You stared into my eyes, waiting for an answer.

"You are right. They will love it!" You exclaimed cheerfully.

You tucked me under your arm and skipped merrily to your mother's office. You knocked loudly on your mother's door.

"Who is it?" She asked.

"It's me Sophia, mommy." She answered.

"Come in."

You ran into the room. "Look, look mommy! See my picture!"

Your mother didn't pay you any attention. She never took her sights off of the computer in front of her. You tugged at her shirt, "Look, mommy, look!"

Your mother waved her hand in dismissal. "Can you leave me be please Sophia? I am trying to get some work done."

You frowned, "But mommy, you are always working. Don't you love me?"

She sighed, "I love you sweetie, but I have things to do. You cannot and you will not occupy all of my time. Show your picture to Ms. Virginia or something. "

"That's what we pay her for anyway." She grumbled under her breath.

Being so close to your chest, I could have heard the sound of your heart-shattering. Tears welled up in your eyes and this time I was certain that they weren't fake. You held your head down, "O-okay then. I will leave you alone."

You exited her office and darted to your all-pink bedroom. You buried your face into your salmon pink pillowcase and cried. The pillow muffled most of the sound but I could still hear your whimpering. My heart broke for you. I knew what it was like to feel abandoned and I never wanted anyone to feel that way, especially you.

Lifting your tear-stained face from the pillow you grabbed me and said "Daddy is never home and mommy doesn't love me, but I know you love me bearbear. We are besties, besties forever and ever."

That day I made a vow to myself to do everything in my power to protect you, forever and ever.

Love,

Your Bestie Bearbear