The Silence That Speaks
Cocoa Rose wasn’t a loud dog. She didn’t bark for attention, didn’t perform tricks for praise, and never chased after people just to be noticed. She simply showed up—quiet, steady, loyal—and settled into my life the way dusk settles over water. Not flashy. Just... right. She wasn’t a “people dog.” Guests earned side-eye. I earned her trust. And night after night, without fanfare, she claimed the same spot: my lap. Always the same gentle weight, the same soft sigh, the same stillness that calmed the whole room. And here’s the part I’m ashamed to admit: for years, I didn’t fully get it. The Dog Who Gave Everything Without Asking for Much Cocoa didn’t care if I was halfway listening or doomscrolling through headlines. As long as she could curl up beside me, she was content. That’s the great thing about dogs, isn’t it? They don’t need your resume or your focus group-tested version of love. They love you distracted. They love you when you’re cranky, tired, distant. They love you when your m...