6. 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Did apocolyptic public displays of affection solve our problems? Were we any closer to the source of Laur's outbursts? No. But we didn't have a lot so we were grateful for what we did.

We believed in that Thomas line about how, "Though lovers be lost, love shall not, and death shall have no dominion."

For much of our time together, Laur made her money as a dogwalker. It was the only steady work she could handle though the winters were sometimes brutal. She told me that she both loved and hated dogs.

"I love them because they love whoever's put in front of them and that love is unconditional."

"Why do you hate them?

"Same reason."

I went with her one time, to one of her client's homes, to pick up a small Pit Bull named Vagrant. There is something more pathetic than a man chasing his hat:º a dog in an empty house.

The dog was crated when we got there and he was busting at the seams to get out.

I remember the place smelled like nobody lived there and I wondered what made people like this get a dog. Every room was spotless in a disturbing way.

We hit the park with a bag of toys and Laur was in her element. She'd clicker-trained Vagrant to do some amazing tricks. "He could only sit when I started with him. And not that well."

I mostly stood around the perimeter and watched them play. Eventually we got into a game of Monkey in the Middle. Oddly, I was the monkey. Don't ask.

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