I don’t know if there is a single god that sat down like an architect and designed all the intricacies of our world and its beauty and mystery, but I think each living organism is infused with a trace of something sentient other than our own thoughts and that glowing filament needs our attention. Is God in there orchestrating things? Is that where we receive our little hints of intuition, understand when someone is staring at us, feel an unusual fear at the peek of a cliff or other height where our toes poke over the edge?

What about Lily? What is this unusual gravity that draws me to her?

I think sometimes you like that dog more than me, Jerry said to me. I answer, she needs help. You don’t.

I don’t like that comparison. It forces a choice and this is not about choices. This is about stashing my effort where it is needed most. Lily is sick, and that’s my explanation. My time is not a pie and we don’t all deserve equal pieces. Lily needs more, even extra frosting.