i walk through the gateway to the japanese garden and see the nasty little no dog sign and i look around and he's sneaking around the end of the fence the way we used to go years ago.

 and this time later and once again he's following the ghost of me and i'm following him.

 i'm impressed with how composed he is in this familiar landscape

and when i catch up to him at the moon bridge he regards me casually. it's a small place, and he knows i'm near even when he can't see me, we're connected and he has long been accustomed to his autonomy.