My gaming buddy

"One of the most devastating parts of grief is how it can strike out of nowhere. There you are, doing a perfectly normal, everyday thing, and then that perfectly normal, everyday thing reminds you of something or someone who is no longer there. And when that presence you lost was intimately connected with your life, well, those moments happen frequently and unexpectedly."

"I recently had to say goodbye to an old friend named Millie, an 18-year-old shih tzu who was a constant and steady companion for nearly my entire adult life. In an attempt to get my mind off the sadness, I decided to take a little dip into the familiar with Animal Crossing, a peaceful place full of simple chores that usually helps get my head right."

Grief can appear suddenly during routine activities, turning familiar comforts into sharp reminders of absence. A lifelong companion, an 18-year-old shih tzu named Millie, provided constant presence across two decades. Attempting distraction through Animal Crossing revealed the physical absence as empty laps and missing warmth, even amid calming virtual chores. Gaming habits that were solitary and immersive became occasions for memory and longing. Small, everyday cues and rituals associated with a lost companion can trigger waves of sadness. Familiar virtual spaces can both soothe and unexpectedly surface grief, highlighting how intertwined daily routines and relationships shape emotional responses.

Read at The Verge