the text message popped up on
my phone, sent from my own number
I rolled my eyes, figuring
it was just another scam but instead
of posting a link to some
undoubtedly malware site the line read
'What date is it?'
I laughed. What, was my doppelganger
a time traveler? But I was curious
so I did the thing you're told
not to do; I replied,
giving the date, time, time zone.
to get an immediate response,
'Go hug Bob.'
Was that a threat, a warning?
'Why?' I texted back as I hurried
through the house to where
Bob slept in bed
I curled up around him, arm draped
in a hug. A purr immediately radiated
from his round orange-striped body
as I continued to stare at my phone
no reply came
I braced
for the fall of bombs, for a call
from the vet, for horrific stillness
in his warm, vibrating form
I stayed there
and loved him
as if it was the last moment we had together
maybe it was