Goodbye to the goodest girl. It has been almost a month, and the ache still feels just as raw as the day we said our final goodbye. The house feels emptier without her, and my heart feels heavier. I find myself crying at night, missing the sound of her paws on the floor, her warm presence curled up beside me, and the joy she brought into every ordinary moment. She was our first baby, our Disney dog, the one who made our lives feel like a storybook. Truly, she was a once-in-a-lifetime soul.
We named her Nakupenda, the Swahili word for “I love you,” because that’s what she embodied every single day—love in its purest form. We called her Naku, or affectionately, Nakusie. She had the sweetest heart-shaped nose, a head full of opinions, and a personality that could brighten even the hardest days. Her soul radiated sunshine, filling our home with warmth, laughter, and an unconditional devotion that words will never fully capture.
For nearly 11 years, she was the steady companion through every chapter of our lives. She stayed by my side through the long, lonely residency nights when my husband was always at the hospital. She was my comfort, my listener, my reason to smile even in exhaustion. She celebrated our milestones, welcomed us home each day as if it were the best day ever, and taught us that love doesn’t need words to be understood.
Losing her has left a void that cannot be filled, yet I hold on to the gift of her memory. I whisper her name softly, hoping somehow she hears it across the bridge. Naku, you were everything we could have ever asked for and more. Thank you for loving us so completely. Nakupenda, forever and always.
