Do I love like a dog?

"Do I love like a dog or are you just a lesson to learn?"

It's a question I find myself asking more and more often since you left. Questions came in waves and you are nowhere near to surf through with your answers. That is fine. I should tell myself that it is fine - I can wait.

I can find myself sitting down, with a collar on my neck, wagging my tail, with that shiny, silver tag you gave me. I can find myself waiting for you by the front door, expecting you'll return home with a gift of answers. 

Whenever you come home, it's like the first time seeing you again. You look tired, honey. You still have that same smile on your face. You sit down on the same side of the bed and you wrap your arms around me for warmth. You love me. Your eyes sparkle whenever you look at me. You give me all of your attention. You order me to stay by the front door.

I know it's time for you to leave again. I know because my bowl is barely filled with the breadcrumbs from your dinner table.

And it has been days, weeks, and months - and I can find myself lying down on the cold wooden floor with my tired eyes on the door. No one has knocked on the door. 

No one has fed me for a long time.

Still, I stay by the door like you ordered me to.