It's so sad to think that I'm going back to school soon and you won't realize why I've suddenly disappeared from the house. You'll likely try to walk into my room in the morning after I've left, hoping to wake me up so I'll go downstairs and keep you company but instead there will be an empty bed where I was sleeping just the day before. I know you'll probably be confused, and you'll wander back downstairs thinking I'll come back later that day and you'll likely curl up on the couch and take a nap. You'll see mom and dad come home and think I'll be there too but you'll soon realize that I'm not with them, and I'm sure you'll get sad, but then you'll get dinner and I'm sure you'll feel better.

I'm sure you'll wonder where I am and why I left, and I bet you'll miss me something fierce and I really wish I could tell you in a way you'd understand that I don't want to go and leave you behind at home while I'm an hour away at school. I do miss going to school and coming home to you every day, but honestly, college is a lot of fun even though you're not there with me and I'm glad I have the opportunity to go there.

I hope you don't think that whenever I go back to school that I'm leaving for good. Half the time I count the days until I get to go home to see you and see you so excited to see me when I finally am home. See, where I'll be, you're not allowed to have dogs or any pets for that matter unless you are given permission and I don't think I could get permission to take you both with me since obviously I would take both of you. If you two were small enough to fit in a ten-gallon tank then maybe, but mom has told me time and time again that it won't happen. It's a bummer but I wouldn't want to keep you cooped up in my room all day, so home is the best for you.

I hope you know just how much I love you. Mom says you do know, but I can never be one-hundred-percent sure. I hope I am able to show you by always letting you have the majority of the couch to nap on even though I'm much bigger than you and by giving you treats and playing with you outside and inside with your favorite toys. I wish I could just tell you in a way you'll understand that I love you two with all my heart, and it breaks my heart to leave you whenever I have to go back to school but I hope you know through my actions. I've been told they're much stronger than words.

I already miss you and I haven't even left yet. I'm really going to miss how you seem to always know when I'm upset and let me hug you as if you know I just need it to feel a little better, and how you always look forward to seeing me whenever I come home or let you back in the house after you've been playing outside. I'm bringing a bunch of pictures of you to hang on the walls of my room so you're always nearby, and I will always ask mom and dad to give both of you an extra hug or an extra treat from me since I'm not there to do it myself.

Just wait until I come home; you'll be so smothered with attention and love that you'll think you'll miss when I was gone but hey, by that time it will have been a while so just humor me, okay?

I love you and I hope you never forget that even while I'm away. I'll be back before you know it!

Love always,

Your best friend.