I miss her—the soft rumbles that led to slow snores, her steady warmth, her size big enough to hold onto when the world felt unsteady. Nili Bear was the runt of her litter, but she grew into a determined and bulked Queen, ruling over our lives with a quiet, gentle authority.

Our favorite mornings were the foggy, still ones, when the world seemed wrapped in a dream. We’d wander through the silence together. I’d pick the yellowest lemons from a neighbor’s tree, teasing her with one before showing her a fresh tennis ball. Her eyes would light up, that unmistakable spark of joy.

Nili Bear was more than just a dog—she was a kind and noble soul, wiggling her butt up to strangers and kissing their feet like royalty bestowing blessings. Everyone called her “kind.” It was the word that defined her, the word etched in every memory of her. Even as she dragged her hind paws in her later days, it felt like she was blessing the earth beneath her, leaving a trail of peace and grace. Then she’d sit, just far enough to be alone, surveying her kingdom with quiet pride, a queen at rest.

She gave me so much, and yet I can’t help but feel I gave her too little in return. We were mirrors of each other, connected by a gaze, by shared sighs, by the rhythm of our breaths. She loved me so deeply that she loved everything I loved. If I threw a ball, she’d bound after it with unshakable enthusiasm. And when she learned she could carry two balls at once, she’d make me chase her for the third, her playful mischief shining through.

Nili Bear didn’t just walk into my life—she changed it. She filled a space I hadn’t even known was empty, revealing a missing piece of my identity. Together, we wove a cosmic thread that bound us, an unbreakable tether of love and understanding. Even when we were apart, that thread held strong, a quiet comfort that reminded me she was always there.

Now, our threads are knotted, tangled together in a way that can never be undone. She’s gone, but the bond remains, a part of me forever. My Nili Bear, my kind, beautiful queen—you gave me a lifetime of love, and I will carry it with me always.