Based on a true story. As I swung on the swing my Dad and I built last Fall, the chilly air hit my face. A subtle reminder that winter was just around the corner. I looked up at the different coloured leaves that were falling around me. Yellow, orange and brown covered the grass. My Dad shook his head as he waited for the tree to finish shedding so he could spend all day cleaning them up. I promised him that I would do it for him this year, but as usual would just end up jumping in the piles of leaves anyway. It felt magical being under that tree. Like I was in another world, and nothing existed except me and that big old Maple. I pulled my sweater sleeves over my hands, and into warmth. A lot of people dislike winter, but I love it. Endless hot chocolates, a warm bed at night and cuddling up to a movie with your favorite fluffy blanket. It didn't snow here, but occasionally it would frost which was exciting enough for me. My Golden Retriever came up to me, wagging her fluffy tail and panting, indicating that she wanted to play with me. I sat on the leaves that crunched beneath my weight and she licked my face with her warm tongue, making me giggle. I wrapped my arms around her body and buried my face into her furry neck. My Mum always told me to enjoy the small things in life, like the little things that may not seem important in the moment, but will seem so special in a few years time. As I ran my hand along her soft coat, fur flew in the wind and up into the air. Abbey has been my friend since I was two . We have been the bestest of friends since day one. We spent hours running around in the backyard, no wifi, no phones, just a girl and her dog. Life was simple, carefree and just blissful. I love listening to my family tell stories about her and I growing up together. You would think she's a person at times. She makes us laugh every day, and even on the days we don't feel like laughing, she would succeed. Every, single, time. My eyes suddenly flew open, coming back to the present. I was much older now. My baby teeth had fallen out, my legs had grown longer and my mind was stronger. I had responsibilities now. That day was only a memory. One I wish I had enjoyed more and a day I wish I hadn't taken for granted. Time goes so quickly. My brother and I were now too old to play hide and seek, and my sisters were moving out of home. Dealing with these things are tough...but today, I lost my best friend. A friend that shared everything with me during those easier days. A friend that I grew up with. You know, I never worried what I would do when she was gone, because I never knew life without her. After all, she was always there for me-when I was happy, when I was sad and when I just needed someone - Abbey was always there. It was a shock her leaving us all. It left us just heart broken, empty and confused. A lot of emotions ran through me when I watched my parents car drive away with her in the back. I wanted to run after her and say goodbye one last time, but I couldn't. When the car was out of sight, I went numb. I went to the backyard and sat on a step her and I always sat on. A warm tear ran freely down my face and as I hung my head down, within seconds that tear turned into an unstoppable river. I held her collar in my hand, wishing I could of spent another day with her. I wish I could of fed her one last time or bathed her. My shirt was covered in her fur from me hugging her and my hands smelt like her. It made me more upset because I knew that I would never have her smell on my hands again. This dog made such an impact on my whole family and for that we are grateful. She taught me patience, love, responsibility, and to be kind to everyone - even your enemies. Photos were scattered on the wall of family portraits with her in them and photo books were filled with memories we were lucky enough to capture. My story here is to never take things for granted and to love the little things in life, because one day they won't be there. One day the only thing you will have left of it is a photo on the wall or in an album. I have a photo on my wall of that day under the tree. My Mother was lucky enough to have captured her and I laying on the leaves, my blue eyes sparkling, cheeks flushed, nose red from the cold wind and the biggest grin on my face. Abbey was laying beside me, almost smiling. That day under that magical tree will always be one of my most precious memories. As I sat there on that step without my best friend, something made me look up to the sky. It was setting, marking off another day, and it took my breath away. It was a work of art where all the colours you could ever think of were painted in the sky. I knew that it was her saying goodbye and telling me to be happy. To keep my head up and never let anyone ever make me sad. It was a sign to tell me that everything was going to be okay. That made me cry a little more as I closed my eyes and whispered up to her, “Goodbye Abs.”