19. A Letter from Danny to Me

 A Letter from Danny to me

My Dearest Amma,

I’ve never had the words — but I’ve always had the heart.

I remember when my world changed… when I lost the person who first raised me. I didn’t understand where I was, or who would come next. Then one day, your son found me — and even though I didn’t know it at the time, my forever family had already started finding me.

When Appa drove all the way to Chennai to bring me home… I knew. I wasn’t just being taken somewhere. I was being brought into someone’s heart.

And then, I met you.

I remember the first time I saw you — calm, observing me quietly, as if wondering what kind of dog I was. You didn’t rush to smother me with affection, and I didn’t rush to bark. But there was a silence between us that felt safe.

Amma, you are my safe space.

I watched you during those months when the world outside shut down. I saw how much you missed your daughter. I saw how strong you tried to be for everyone — for the house, for the food, for the moods that shifted like winds.

You never asked me to fix anything. And that’s what made our bond so special — we just sat beside each other and breathed.

I don’t care for big things. I care for the sounds of your footsteps. I care for the way you call my name gently, the way you look at me before you go to sleep. The way you whisper “good boy” even on the days I haven’t done anything at all.

Amma, I know I’m getting old.

My legs are slower. My naps are longer. My energy doesn’t bounce the way it used to. But every time I see your face, I still feel like a puppy. You make me feel young — because you love me as if I were new to your heart every day.

When my time comes — and it will, someday — I just want you to know: I’ll never really leave. I will sleep in the corners of your room. I will walk beside you on your quiet days. I will wait for you in the wind that brushes your cheek gently.

You didn’t give birth to me. But you became my Amma.

Thank you for giving me my home, my purpose, and my peace.

I love you, forever and ever.

Your boy,

Danny 🐾