It is almost like she is a little girl again, and I am her little brown bear that she takes everywhere.
It is familiar – the way her chocolate brown curls are covering my body, as she squeezes me so tight.
Tonight, tears are falling from her cheeks at an alarming rate and absorbing into my brown fur.
I don’t make a sound, but I wish with every ounce of my stuffing that I could take her pain away.
I wonder, briefly, how many tears have fallen onto me over the years.
She murmurs into my body. I can’t understand fully what she is saying.
I have spent most of my days lately tucked away on a shelf.
I see the sun rise and the sun set.
I watch her laugh as she spends time with friends.
I watch her schedule herself to be too many places at once, and then wonder how she is going to get it all done.
She is a beautiful young woman.
She has outgrown me.
Most days, anyways.
But today, she needs me. And I am there. As I have always been.
I absorb her tears until she cannot cry anymore, until she rests on my body.
Her head fits snugly into a mold she has created from many years using me as a pillow.
“Oh Snuggles,” she sighs.
She fingers the familiar remnants of a hole in my neck – a scar from a run-in with an overzealous dog. I remember how kindly her Grandmother had sewed it for me. She was a gentle woman.
“You always smell the same,” she says as she breathes in deeply.
I want to tell her that she does too. That I miss the days of her and I.
Even the days that she forced me to put on a bonnet and a diaper and lay in her play crib while she force fed me bottles.
She props me up, and stares into my dark eyes. Her eyes are red and puffy, her hair is a mess. She is exhausted.
She hugs me tight again, and begins to fall asleep.
Tomorrow, I will end up on the shelf again.
She will be smiling again.
But tonight? Tonight it’s me and her.
Together.
Tonight, I will make her feel safe.
Just like I’ve been doing since she was just a little girl, with her little brown bear.
So so sweet. Love where you took the prompt. Sometimes it's the little bears that provide the best comfort.
Interesting! Like me, you chose a much-loved stuffed toy: there are many similarities in our pieces 🙂 They were so comforting, weren't they? Simply for being THERE…
Nicely done – You capture the senses very well here.
Awwww. You seemed to capture the well-worn patience of a much loved toy. Great job!
Ah, is there anything like a dear old bear?
I adore the verb murmur, as she pours out her emotions. It's very special indeed, and we are lucky to have so many avenues of unconditional love.
There's nice texture images throughout, which bring the feeling of the bear to the reader.
So sweet. Such a selfless tale. I never had a specific stuffed animal or doll growing up that brought me comfort (I had a blanket, though, which I used for today's prompt), but I do understand the special relationship – the incomparable feeling of relief you get from that inanimate object. This was/is your bear, I'm assuming?
Aw, this was so sweet!
I really love this post. It's so very touching and reminded me of my little stuffed lion and my collie dog from when I was a little girl. That dog heard a lot of woes…
Love you header as well – great shots. I shall stalk your blog now 😉
I wish I still had my bear. Her name was Emily.
Reminds me of my 9yo daughter who has a special bear. She still loves him with all her heart. You told your bears story beautifully.
Aw, sweet.
Love this post. Very sweet and personal.
Lovely and sweet and just perfect. I'm going to go hug my favorite stuffed cat now…which may or may not already be laying on my bed. Yes, I'm 28-years-old…yes, I probably have a problem. 🙂
Loved this! Another one of my favorites of the day!
This is so touching, Jenn. Your bear looks well-loved and he clearly takes good care of you! I never outgrew my special stuffed animal, Funky. I even put him on my about page! I've cried into his fur since first grade.
If I were a teacher you would get an A+ on this assignment. EXCELLENT EXCELLENT EXCELLENT, and soooooo sweet!
I occasionally wonder what Vinny (the wonder cat) thinks when I cry like that into his fur.
I loved this prompt. I may have to write on it.
Thank you everyone for your sweet, sweet comments! I love and appreciate them ALL.
Jenn
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