Luna's Story — A Connection, Not a Replacement
I didn't want to 'move on.' I wanted a way to stay connected.
The moment
Before he was gone, a friend gave me a gift I didn't realize it would matter so much: a framed portrait—bright-eyed, familiar, unmistakably him.
When I held it up beside him, it didn't feel like something “extra.” It felt like a quiet way of holding on—something that honored our bond in the present, and would still be there on the days I needed it most. Not a replacement. Just connect.
The making
We started with Luna's facial structure and eye shape. With cats, a few millimeters can change the entire “personality” of the face.
We matched the subtle asymmetry in her markings and built the coat in layered textures to capture that slightly silky look. A final pass refined the expression—less “cute,” more Luna .
The reveal
I placed the framed portrait where I'd see it every day. That open-mouthed, happy expression was so familiar—it made me pause without even thinking.
It didn't ask me to “be okay.” It simply gave my love somewhere to go. I can miss him, remember him, and still keep alive my life. Not a replacement—just a quiet, steady connection.