I sat on the porch watching the sunrise. My mother was sitting on her rocking chair, sewing a patch in a pair of jeans I’d torn. I stroked Sky as I watched the sun cast a shimmering orange glow across the sky, reflecting on everything around me.
“Mom?”
“Yes dear?”
“Are you happy?” I stared at her dark brown eyes as they twinkled in the light.
“Yes, yes I’m very happy. I have you and Sky and a beautiful home” She stared at the sunrise, her face bathed in the orange light.
“Me too.” I was silent for a while and then I got up, “Common Sky!” I cried and ran toward the orange hills.
We played fetch in those hills, and as I watched my dog running toward me, head and ears erect, and laughter in his eyes, I felt an inner peace that I had not felt since father left.
I am content.