she would sit
idly run her fingers
through my beard
hum absently
as she stared out the window
watching
the big drops splat
on the thirsty ground

am i your pet, to be scratched and nuzzled

she gave a wry grin
nodded
still humming
still watching
still absently playing

a puppy or a cat

she pauses
squints at me
the gears turning
as she tries
to define me
just shakes her head

surely not a goldfish or parakeet, neither of them have fur to stroke as the rain falls

she squints
i can see
the mischievous glint
in her lovely brown eyes

marmot

i sit
for a long moment
her attention back on the rain
my mind
trying to figure out
what that means

they are thought to be the main carriers of bubonic plague in the middle ages

she blinks
cocks her head
smiles
shrugs her shoulders

they are rodents

she giggles

you always overthink it my love, they have fluffy fur and chubby bellies and i think they are adorable, like you

i sit
for a long second
shrug
wrap my arms around her
tighter

she leans her head back
against my shoulder
looks up
through those
bottomless wells of brown
smiles

marmot or pup, it doesn’t matter at all, most importantly, you are mine

i melt into her a little more
smiling so big
my cheeks hurt

you’re right

she reached up
pats my cheek fondly

i know