Head, heart, then reality intervenes

I was going to write a post about the head knowing something is lost, but the heart not wanting to let go, but some news I received earlier today has rather overtaken the previous train of thought, underlining the inconstancy of life, as I'm experiencing it at the moment.
I'll still give a potted version of what started the original strand yesterday. I was on my way to work, for the second of two twelve hour night shifts that have taken up much of this weekend, when, outside my local station, I came upon what I presume was a family group, mother, father, two elderly people, both in wheelchairs - and a boy, a young man, really, around 16 or 17, or maybe even 18. Who looked so much like a 'grown-up' version of DBJ, albeit a rather more heavily-built one, that I could hardly believe it. Unsurprisingly, I wasn't a happy bunny, to be reminded of that beautiful boy, who not only would, could, never be mine, but who I'll almost certainly never see again. It's so hard, though, when you've been so besotted with someone for such a long time, four years and more, to accept that every vestige of hope is gone. It is, though, and I'll just have to live with that realisation.
But then the unadorned version of reality asserted itself, with real life consequences for people who I have a genuine connection with and concern for. In some ways, it could be said to be, if not trivial, then at least in the 'small earthquake' category, but connections, and the length of time they've been in place, come into play once more. Our cat, who had deigned to allow us to live with her for the last eight years, was hit by a car and killed, yesterday lunchtime. My wife and daughter, understandably, are heartbroken, and even I, who never really got that attached to her, am rather shaken up by what's happened. Yet another piece of my life, our life, that has been taken away, another hurt. Another nail in the coffin.

Love & best wishes to all (and R.I.P., Tia)
Sammy B