Still so strange

Last night I looked over and Whiskers was sitting on the end table.  Nothing new, but my heart skipped--it reminded me of an old photo of Niles, on another table, by another lamp, which feels like both yesterday and a lifetime ago.  It made my heart hurt. 

I love these kittens SO MUCH (if that is not wildly evident already!) but I still miss Niles.  It is hard, because if he were still here, we wouldn't have Snowy and Whiskers.  I can't imagine life without them, but I wish Niles were still here.  I know I can't have both, and I know that we are so lucky we found two sweet, funny, cute new kittens.  But still, sometimes my heart hurts.

Niles and Whiskers, both just about 4 months old.