Something shifted in our home that night. For the first time since my husband’s death, it felt… warm again. Daisy’s presence softened the silence, filled the empty corners, and brought a little life back into our hearts.

Over the next weeks, Daisy became family. She followed Liam everywhere, wagging her tail like she’d found her purpose. She sat beside me when I worked late at the kitchen table, resting her chin on my lap as if reminding me to breathe.

I often thought of the man. I wondered where he was sleeping, if he was warm, if he missed Daisy as much as Daisy missed him at night.

Then, one month later, something strange happened.

I was sorting through the mail one evening when I found an envelope in the box. There was no stamp, no return address. Just three words written in neat handwriting:

From your old friend.

Curious, I opened it. Inside was a folded sheet of lined paper. My hands shook a little as I unfolded it.

It wasn’t addressed to me. It was written to Daisy.