After burying her eight-year-old daughter, Lily, Ashley returned home, engulfed in grief. A week later, she found herself staring blankly at an empty chair where Lily should have been, struggling to navigate a world without her little girl.

The drive home was silent; she couldn’t bear the thought of returning to an empty house. But as she pulled into the driveway, something caught her eye—an enormous, brightly colored tent in her backyard. Confused and exhausted, she approached, heart pounding.

Inside, something small and still lay bundled in a blanket. Memories of Lily flooded back, and she felt a wave of despair. But then the bundle moved. A tiny golden retriever puppy emerged, wiggling toward her with a pink bow around its neck.

Ashley knelt down, overwhelmed. Just then, she noticed an envelope tucked beneath the blanket. It was addressed in Lily’s familiar handwriting. The note read:

“Dear Mommy, I know you’re sad. I asked Daddy to get you a puppy to help you smile. Her name is Daisy. I love you so much.”

Tears streamed down Ashley’s face. In her final moments, Lily had thought of her, leaving a living reminder of their love.

Over the days that followed, Daisy became Ashley’s shadow, nudging her gently back to life. Each wag of Daisy’s tail felt like Lily’s spirit wrapping around her, reminding Ashley that she wasn’t alone. Though the pain of loss remained, she found a new reason to keep going, fueled by the love that would always connect them.