You were my first catch of any Pokemon,
The Catterpie I raised so carefully
Until you evolved into a Butterfree.
You were there with me through most of the adventure,
Right by my side.
Of all my Pokemon, you were special.
Maybe you weren't the strongest but you were always my girl.
You did get strong though.
I made sure of that
But what mattered more was that we were friends and you were there.
And then, the game's battery died.
Of all the Pokemon I lost, I missed you especially.
When I had to start over, I looked for you again and found you, my Butterfree.
I kept you, just as before, right by my side.
You weren't as strong that time but you were still my girl.
School took me away from the game and I eventually stopped playing.
When I came back, it had quit on me again.
I still wanted you, still felt you in my heart,
Right there, where you belong.
It took time before I found the right place to look for you,
To make you more than a sort of imaginary friend that was just part of a game.
I found you, this time in my world
And you came to me in the form of a small plush toy.
Oh, Butterfree!
You're really here,
Different than I imagined, with that round nose, the two fangs under it,
No tail and big, bulging oval eyes.
The fact that you walk on two legs and have actual hands with three fingers.
The two separate pairs of wings with patterns that I can feel.
I didn't expect those things but you're beautiful just the same.
Now I can really see you and hold you in my arms.
I missed you for all those years but you're home now.
We're together.
You're still my girl.
There are many moments that I've missed in life and many more that I will miss.
Past pains and worries for the future have made me turn away from beauty sometimes
And associate harmless things with life's problems.
I don't want to turn from you like that,
Not after all that waiting to come back together.
You're too wonderful a friend to waste,
A reminder of the moments I've caught,
The times that I stopped to notice a breath, the sunshine, a hug shared with a loved one.
A true reminder of why it's important to say yes to the good and beautiful.
A sign, too, that lost things can be found again.
We will miss moments
But sometimes, we'll catch them and hold them close.
We can appreciate those moments, just as I can finally properly appreciate you.
Please help me remember to appreciate more of the good ones.
Help me open again to the beauty that I've pushed aside.
Thank you for being here, my Butterfree.
Love you.