Bear was more then a dog. He was best friend. He was MY dog. He came to me. He wouldnt leave without me. Some of my favorite memories are of him shaking in my arms during a thunderstorm. I can still remember exactly how his fur felt, how he felt in my arms. Bear died suddenly. He always liked to chew things, and he had his favorite towel. We had no idea he was actually EATING the towel. But then he got sick and started throwing up. But he had always had a sensitive stomach, so we merely gave him lots of water and petted his head, saying 'its okay boy'. But then Monday morning he couldnt move. It was like he was paralized. Bear was lying in his usual spot, but he wouldn't get up. He looked up at me with those mournful brown eyes. help me. The last I ever saw of him was my Mom carrying him out to the car, I kissed his head and said get well boy. Even as I did so there was a sense of forboding and for some unknown reason i suddenly thought this may be the last time you see him. But it was a fleeting thought and one soon gone. I slapped myself for even thinking it. Days went by and the vet reported he was doing better. Then they said he had to have surgery. I trusted them and wasn't too worried. But there I am on the couch watching West Side Story and Mom walks in and right away I know there's something wrong. Katie, her voice cracks, Bear died. It was like the world was crashing down on me. It was the end of my world. The end of everything. I cursed God, I threw up in the bathroom. Tears were streaming down my cheeks, I was sobbing. Not Bear. Not my Bear. A few days after I had cried myself to sleep and I had a dream. We were in the living room and I run to the door and there's Bear. I let him in and he's running around with Blackie. Tears are in my eyes. There's a frog in my throat. I get on the big chair and he jumps up with me and I hold him. He feels so real, so solid, just as I remembered. And Im yelling, Hes come back! Hes come back! I knew he wouldnt leave without saying goodbye. I kiss his head and then I wake up, the feel of him still with me. And I get up and touch one of the pictures I have hanging up of him, and I whisper, thanks for saying goodbye. About two days later we are driving in the car on one of the most beutiful fall days I can remember. Not a cloud in the sky, hadnt rained in days. And there stretched across the sky in the most beutiful rainbow youve ever seen. Amy says, well where do you think that came from? I didnt hesitate, Bear, I whispered, its Bear.