Tanya, I obviously do not know the identity of whatever/whoever has been lost, but that is largely irrelevant. Pet or person (the former?) are terrible in their own ways and - if literal - then I am sorry.
But, as cliched as it sounds, and as you allude to, what does 'gone' really mean anyway?

Take care

I don’t know who or what is lost, but those illusions in some cases aren’t they a good thing? It is a way of consolation, and can ease the grieving.

Tanya this really is beautiful and says so very much about death and grief so eloquently. :-) x
=^.^=

Beautiful Tanya, nominated...

Oh, this gave me shivers. There's such a calmness in the tone, almost a sureness, but there's also a twinge of sadness. Because you know absence but you refuse to let it be the definition of "nothing". There is still something to be found in someone's absence. If we think of them at peace, doing what they love, it brings us a consolation too. It's like this battle between reality and what our heart is telling us, that this person physically may be distant, yet their soul is more than just a body.

Beautifully sad... Very moving, thx for the read...