The image fires on all cylinders, with simple familiar toothpick shape manipulated in an exploration of contradictions between straight and curved, light and dark, foreground and background. It makes a beautiful abstract with hard dark shapes against fuzzy cloudy texture. Then the title elevates it to communication of familiar emotions around absence of another, eliciting a knowing smile that the mind finds reminders everywhere. It reminds us that reality may be affected by our predispositions and that our perceptions are affected by our history. Excellent art on more levels than many other entries.