Tess still enjoyed going outside, even at night. I used to love how she could run so far away from me to catch the toy; now I rejoiced that we stayed so close together. Tess could follow my heat and my scent at first. Later, we remained touching at all times. And I was honored, after our years together, to receive the gift of her graceful, trusting reliance on me, as I had once relied on her, to navigate through the dark. Never before had anyone relied on me so completely. Never before had anyone loved me more deeply. And never before had I experienced grace so profound.
