There’s change for the bad, and for the good. And sometimes both.

The worst part of losing a pet is having to make the decision. I kept hoping Theo would die peacefully in her sleep, but even as she lost her appetite and her ability to walk, she kept hanging on until we brought her to the vet.

The last time I lost a cat, she died in the car on the way to the emergency vet. This was the first time I went through the process of putting a cat to sleep, and it’s wrenching. She was in pain, and it was time. But I still keep thinking I hear her around the house, yowling for lunch (she was the only cat I’d ever met who insisted that cats get lunch), claws scrabbling as she hops onto the kitchen island or the stove to hunt for crumbs. My office is quieter without her barging into it. No one is claiming my space on the couch. Our other cat keeps looking around, puzzled, because he has the house to himself but no one to fight with.

There’s been a lot to adjust to this summer. We officially have a child in college and an empty bedroom (where I can finally see the floor again). We’ll be cooking for three, not four, and beginning college visits all over again for our younger one. Being a parent means planning ahead for the day when they leave you and hoping you did it more or less right.

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In the meantime, I had one horror story published by On the Premises (second-place winner!) and my feminine-rage superhero story is upcoming in an anthology by Oddity Prodigy Productions—check out the Kickstarter here. This is only the second time I’ve tried to get that story published, mainly because there aren’t many markets for original superhero stories, so I’d call that a win.

I had three—or four? Now I don’t remember—other short stories shortlisted by various publications that ultimately didn’t get selected, but making the shortlist is still exciting. All stories have bounced back out to find homes. And my fantasy novel is still in progress. Unfortunately I’m still figuring out the backstory as I go, so I look forward to completely rewriting the beginning in a few months. And then revising the whole dang thing.

Change is in the air. Here’s hoping it’s for the good. Keep writing, stay safe.