Reflections of Michael Trilogy Book 4
Date Published: June 9, 2025
they navigate grief, love, and self-discovery in a city filled with history
and hope. A New Life is a story that lingers long after the last page.
EXCERPT
CHAPTER ONE
Walden Pond, a mirror-like surface which reflected the magnificent beauty of trees, birds, and of course the dragonfly who carried the souls of the dead to rest.
Red leaves fell in the background like a fire engulfing all the trees surrounding the pond. The vibrant colors told that fall had arrived.
A flock of ducks paddled in an aimless direction, geese flew with rapid speed, and left the frogs behind, who sang their sounds of joy. In the crystal clearness of the pond, the fish smoothly moved through the water. The serenity, the sanctuary, filled an onlooker with peace.
Two travelers stood close to the edge of the pond; they resembled Casper Friedrich’s painting “Two Men Contemplating the Rising Moon.”
Further along the shoreline, an older man sat on a huge log and lit his pipe as he basked in the dim light of the harvest moon. He must have been a bird watcher. At least three different binoculars hung around his neck.
A few steps away was a mother who spoke rapidly in Spanish with her three children, who ate sandwiches, sipped juice, and looked at the radiant harvest moon.
Suddenly, the two travelers looked panicked; they then began to dig a very deep hole. They took off their jackets and wrapped a large unknown object in them.
Were they placing a time capsule that held stories of special moments in their lives in the ground? One traveler moved towards the hole, holding the wrapped object.
“Louie, watch it. You might damage her head,” Ron said nervously.
“I’m sorry, Rhonda,” said Louie, choking back tears.
They lowered the wrapped object, the body of their beloved dog Rhonda into the makeshift grave. In the dim light, there was a sense of privacy in that moment.
Louie placed wildflowers on top of the body, and they prayed. Slowly, they poured dirt to fill the grave. Both men patted the dirt, making the ground smooth. They could not help but cry as they walked back to the car.
Ron started the car as quietly as possible, but the roar of the engine cut through the silence abruptly. He took a deep breath and tried to forget that he would need to leave his best friend behind. It was easier to pretend that she was still with them. They drove away and waved goodbye as their car passed her grave.
Two hours passed without a word between Louie and Ron. Finally, very faintly, Louie heard Ron say “Ra,” then “Ma.”
Louie asked, “Our Mantra? Can I say it with you?”
Ron nodded as he pulled off the road. He asked Louie to hold hands with him as they both chanted, “Ra.”
Then Ron said, “The sun.”
They went ahead with the interchange of the chant, and then Ron said its meaning.
“Ma,” said Ron, “Moon. Daa, the earth. Saa, your infinity, your personal infinity. Say, all of infinity. So, the merging of the individual’s infinity and all the rest of infinity.”
Louie than ended the chant with “Hung.”
Ron said, “The infinite and the vibrations in us, we are the Thou.”
Ron urged Louie to chant one more time. Louie led them in another chant. They finished and sat quietly for a moment. Louie had this sudden calmness about him.
“Louie, Aristotle said a good death is one where you have family and friends around you. Rhonda had a good death. Let’s try to heal, and you heal through grief. But first, open your window; let Rhonda go. As she goes through the open window, her soul is free.”
Louie opened his window, and they felt the cool breeze from outside. He told Ron, “She left.” Louie felt content a moment later.
They continue their journey back to New York, Ron pointed out to Louie the cafe where he danced for well over an hour with the hostess and the server. “Want me to stop? We can do it again?”
“No, I passed that stage in my life journey, Ron.”
They spent the rest of the trip talking about Rhonda and how great she was, from the fight where she tried to protect Ron to the National Cemetery where she was left behind by accident at dusk, not found until midnight.
Louie and Ron had a chuckle over how Rhonda refused to walk on the sidewalks in Paris because of all the cigarette butts on the ground; she had to be pushed around in a baby carriage, because she did not want to burn her paws.
Louie started crying, and Ron comforted him, assuring him that the pain was fine; he needed to accept it.
“Rhonda was so smart,” Louie said proudly. “Some people don’t know the relationship between an owner and their pet. It is so special, so unconditional. Rhonda will always be a part of me. It was nice to bury her here in America, her home country.”
A while later, Ron and Louie arrived at their motel. Ron said to him, “Let’s get the luggage and go to bed. Hey, I was thinking when we get back to Paris, you should move in me with me and stop sleeping in the bookstore.”
Louie could not believe what he heard. Sharing more time with Ron would be special; he was excited to have that time together.
Once they got to the room, Louie asked Ron if he could sleep with him. Ron answered, “Only if you watch that left arm of yours and where it’s moving. And that goes also if you live with me, okay?” Ron laughed.
Louie responded in an offended tone, “Ron, that happens when my arm falls asleep, and I stretch it!”
Louie could not keep a serious face in his exhaustion, and they both laughed it off and went to bed.
They went ahead with the interchange of the chant, and then Ron said its meaning.
“Ma,” said Ron, “Moon. Daa, the earth. Saa, your infinity, your personal infinity. Say, all of infinity. So, the merging of the individual’s infinity and all the rest of infinity.”
Louie than ended the chant with “Hung.”
Ron said, “The infinite and the vibrations in us, we are the Thou.”
Ron urged Louie to chant one more time. Louie led them in another chant. They finished and sat quietly for a moment. Louie had this sudden calmness about him.
“Louie, Aristotle said a good death is one where you have family and friends around you. Rhonda had a good death. Let’s try to heal, and you heal through grief. But first, open your window; let Rhonda go. As she goes through the open window, her soul is free.”
Louie opened his window, and they felt the cool breeze from outside. He told Ron, “She left.” Louie felt content a moment later.
They continue their journey back to New York, Ron pointed out to Louie the cafe where he danced for well over an hour with the hostess and the server. “Want me to stop? We can do it again?”
“No, I passed that stage in my life journey, Ron.”
They spent the rest of the trip talking about Rhonda and how great she was, from the fight where she tried to protect Ron to the National Cemetery where she was left behind by accident at dusk, not found until midnight.
Louie and Ron had a chuckle over how Rhonda refused to walk on the sidewalks in Paris because of all the cigarette butts on the ground; she had to be pushed around in a baby carriage, because she did not want to burn her paws.
Louie started crying, and Ron comforted him, assuring him that the pain was fine; he needed to accept it.
“Rhonda was so smart,” Louie said proudly. “Some people don’t know the relationship between an owner and their pet. It is so special, so unconditional. Rhonda will always be a part of me. It was nice to bury her here in America, her home country.”
A while later, Ron and Louie arrived at their motel. Ron said to him, “Let’s get the luggage and go to bed. Hey, I was thinking when we get back to Paris, you should move in me with me and stop sleeping in the bookstore.”
Louie could not believe what he heard. Sharing more time with Ron would be special; he was excited to have that time together.
Once they got to the room, Louie asked Ron if he could sleep with him. Ron answered, “Only if you watch that left arm of yours and where it’s moving. And that goes also if you live with me, okay?” Ron laughed.
Louie responded in an offended tone, “Ron, that happens when my arm falls asleep, and I stretch it!”
Louie could not keep a serious face in his exhaustion, and they both laughed it off and went to bed.
About the Author
agencies in Los Angeles and New York. He started his career as a theatrical
producer, running two major regional theaters for eight seasons. Ambrosio
taught at 7 Universities. Ambrosio also distinguished himself as an
award-winning film producer and novelist over the course of his impressive
career.
