Burt was my companion, my love, my guide, my partner, my pal for so many years and then he started withdrawing. That was not a conscious withdrawal but one he could not control. It was caused by the dementia that was also causing him to lose himself.
Lost and not lost, as I have said, he slowly withdrew from the life we knew. My love, my partner, my companion became lost in the progression of his illness. It was relentless, the progression. It was slow and it was quick.
I expected its inevitable end. And I was taken aback at how quickly Burt passed, finally away from me.
His last withdrawal surprised me by its suddenness. It’s hard to explain; I saw him actively dying for four days. It should have been evident that he would be gone. It was a relief and an anguish that it happened so soon.
this is our life 