love, loss and cinnamon rolls

On New Year's Day, I woke up to a text from a friend letting me know that she'd had to put one of her cats down the day before and the decision completely shattered her. As an animal lover and one who's had to make the same decision a few times before, I know how deeply this can hurt. So, I did the only thing I could think of to console her...I baked. Cinnamon rolls to be exact are one of her favorite things; soft, gooey, covered in cream cheese frosting, and still warm from the oven when I took them to her. Sometimes, bringing food is the only way I know to offer comfort to someone who’s hurting and while I don't believe my emotions made their way into the mixing of ingredients, as in the book, Like Water for Chocolate, I was thinking of my friend's broken heart while I made the rolls, of her kitty's sweet face, of the days ahead that will feel empty in her home as everyone adjusts to the loss.