Billy

Billy was a friend of mine. One day I came home and I saw him hanging around up on the ceiling. He had a nice smile. That made me smile too.

It was good to have Billy around. He listened to me very closely when I needed to talk to a friend. He knew what it feels like. We watched movies together. Some movies he didn’t like, but then again he didn’t mind. We chilled with the music and I fell asleep on the couch. Too bad he couldn’t put a blanket on me; he had no hands.

One day I realized Billy was changing. Something was different about him, he wasn’t the same. I asked him if there was something wrong. He didn’t respond. I made him hot air, but he didn’t take it. That was so odd, he never said no to hot air. I asked him if he was hungry or if he wanted to go out for a walk. He just gave me his big ol’ smile, saying it’s going to be alright.

Not only Billy’s behavior changed, but his face and ears started to look different. He was still so kind to me, and cheered me up by merely being around. He just couldn’t stay up like he used to. Something was bothering him and I couldn’t figure what. He wasn’t even on the ceiling anymore.

So that was it. Billy was losing it and I couldn’t do anything about it. That was the hardest part.

Billy don’t you turn your back on me #BobDylan

“I am going away for a few days” I explained to Billy. He smiled. “Do you think you’ll be alright?” I asked. I was worried about him. He smiled again. He had a strong smile that made me do anything. That was the reason I trusted him the most. It was only for a few days but something deep down in my heart tickled me, believing that it was a bad idea.

I looked for my keys in my backpack. I knew it was there but I just couldn’t find it. Or maybe I couldn’t find it because I was impatient. I couldn’t wait to get home. To take off my shoes, drink water from my own cup and nap on the couch. To see Billy, in the end. I found my chubby cow key chain somewhere in the front pocket, and got the door open. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. My hear was broken. Billy, oh Billy! Isn’t life just a loving witch?

Like every other story, mine has an ending too. It is not a happy ending. It’s not a sad ending. It ended. It was a hot summer afternoon and we were sitting in the living room. The birds were singing out my window, and leaves getting tanned in the sun. I looked at Billy. He has been through a lot. “Is he still smiling?” I wondered out loud. Well, I guess so.