Affection in furry form. Breathtaking love of my life.  

Even now, my heart is fractured as I think of Yuri. 

However, he is still here.  

Influencing and showing his presence with a yearning of meaning.

Magical  music glides over mosaic remembrances and in certain moments

The holy hollowness of my heart beats the passion of  a peaceful spirit, 

Gentleness glistening in the sweet memories of long walks and silent conversations. 

Still here, in my mind, in my heart a steady gaze tells me he is silently with me. 

How can it be that this gentle  dog still grips my heart in grief…

He was the one who guided me through  healing

A  path of heartache that had clenched  and paralyzed me with fear.

He helped in maneuvering the treacherous waters of life, so I began to  believe in myself. 

The tears I shed are big, real tears of  sorrow and loss. 

Yet I am healed through his everlasting devotion of hope.

And life lessons continue to lead me in the love that is waiting for me within the eyes of nature.

This image is part of the https://islandinthenet.com/52-week-smartphone-challenge/ The topic is Love Story. My son shot this with his iPhone 6 witnessing me saying goodbye to Yuri. He was 13 and crippled with arthritis. We were fortunate that we were able to put him down in his beloved backyard. I am convinced that Yuri was and will always be an Angel. Photo is cropped and edited in snapseed.