5 years ago today, I drove up to an animal shelter in Texas. I was one month out from the day I got raped and I was looking for a reason - any reason - to stay alive. I walked up to a puppy pen and saw 6 chunky pups tumbling all over each other.

And back in the corner, all alone, looking at the dirt, was the runt of the litter. I brought him home and we’ve been inseparable ever since.

Happy gotcha day #5 to the one who’s never left my side, the one who comes running up the stairs to lay next to me at the first hint of a sniffle, the one who’s saved my life more times than he knows. I’ll forever be obsessed with you, Lewis.https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🐾" title="Paw prints" aria-label="Emoji: Paw prints">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💕" title="Two hearts" aria-label="Emoji: Two hearts">

He deserves so much more than I’ve ever been able to give him. He’s never lived in a house with a yard. He’s never gotten the number of walks per day that he deserves. And he’s always eaten the cheapest dog food. 4 of his 5 years with me have been spent in grad/law school.

But I’d like to think that Lewis and I have always belonged together. I can’t imagine my life without him. I can’t imagine falling asleep without him in the bed next to me, or coming home without him dashing to the door, bringing me a toy as a welcome-home gift.

Lewis is a part of my soul. My constant sidekick. He was there when I got married. He was there when I got divorced. He was there every night I woke up from a nightmare. There through my panic attacks.

He’s good with people, kids, cats, dogs. He’s good on metros, planes, escalators, and elevators. He’s good when I’m not home and when I am. He’s everything. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🖤" title="Black heart" aria-label="Emoji: Black heart">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤍" title="White heart" aria-label="Emoji: White heart">