Gone.

Shao Lan is gone, taken from me earlier this evening. 

Few of you will know the sentiments of an expat to her bike, especially one that led her through some of her worst moments in a foreign land.  'I don't think I could bear to lose him' were my words some seven months ago.  Since then, he had become even more dear to me.  But now that I've lost him, I realize that this loss can be borne--though not without some sadness. 

I must find a new sidekick out here.