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Pepe was my daughter Summer Skye’s Chihuahua—but calling him a dog never fully captured who he was. He was her constant companion and her fiercest protector. Wherever Summer went, Pepe was always close, watching, guarding, and loving her with absolute devotion. If he was ever separated from her, even briefly, he would panic until he could reach her again. He had a big heart, a stubborn spirit, and a personality that made him impossible to forget.
Several years ago, I wrote a children’s book titled Adventures of Summer Skye and Pepe the Defender as a birthday gift for Summer. At the time, creating consistent characters was difficult, and I worked through those limitations the best I could. None of that mattered to her. She loved the book completely and slept with it under her pillow for a long time. To her, the story was real—because the bond behind it was real.
In everyday life, Summer and Pepe were inseparable. They played together constantly, and Pepe followed her everywhere—not to control her, but to make sure she was never alone. If anyone came too close to her, Pepe was ready to step in. He wasn’t pretending to be a protector. He truly was one. That reality is what gave the story its heart.
More recently, I created short videos of Pepe the Defender using AI tools. To my surprise, those videos connected with people more strongly than anything else I had made. Viewers responded to Pepe—not as a concept, but as a character who felt genuine. I believe that authenticity came from the fact that Pepe wasn’t invented. He was real.
Last week, Pepe slipped out through our gate and was struck by a car.
Our family has been devastated by the loss. Summer, especially, has been grieving deeply. She didn’t just lose a pet—she lost her constant companion, her silent guardian, and a presence that had been with her every day of her childhood. The house feels different now. Not just quieter, but changed.
I do intend to continue Adventures of Summer Skye and Pepe the Defender in the future. The story isn’t finished. But right now, it’s too close. Creating anything connected to Pepe brings the loss back with full force. The grief is still fresh.
For now, we are letting Summer grieve in her own way, and allowing ourselves to do the same. Meaning and stories will come later. Love doesn’t disappear just because someone is gone.
Pepe was real. He mattered.
And because of that, he always will.
Music Credits: Bloom by The Paper Kites
Written by Sam Bentley & Christina Lacy
Produced by Tim Johnston & The Paper Kites
© The Paper Kites / Nettwerk
Used with love and respect in memory of Pepe the Defender.
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