The Intruder
2022-06-13, 7:35 p.m.

June 11th marked one month since Fran has been gone. When I arrived home that day Abbey's new Cavapoo puppy named Rita met me at the door.

She is a tiny fluffy brown bundle of energy and loves for everyone to give her attention.

Rita and I only were briefly introduced the other day and I wasn't expecting her to notice me at all.

I wanted to be sad and alone as I walked up the stairs but Rita wouldn't let me out of her sight.

As I stood in front of my bedroom and fumbled with my keys Rita rested her head on the front of my shoe.

I looked down at Rita and said, “you are trying to force me to love you huh?”

She picked up her head from my shoe and started wagging her tail like crazy.

I opened the door to my room and Rita rushed in to investigate its contents.

I tossed my stuff down and sat on the edge of the bed. I looked down at Rita and said, “it's time for you to go.”

Rita whined and wasn't leaving so I eventually picked her up and put her in a mound of covers in the center of the bed.

I laid down and stared at a large pic of Fran I have to the left and said,” we have a visitor in our bed.”

Just then Rita walked over from the mound of covers and snuggled up in my right armpit.

The AC was on high and after a few minutes, we both fell asleep. I wanted to be alone and sad but it's almost as if Fran knew and sent me a companion.