My work is an investigation into comfort and the effort to visualize an invisible illness. This body of work discusses my own experiences with chronic illness, but also creates a space for vulnerable conversations to continue about this invisible epidemic in our world by using symbolism to visualize intangible interferences. I explore the idea of “Radical Softness”, which characterizes empathy and emotional expression as political resistance, serving as both symbol and driving inspiration. My dog, Velvet, is the vessel I use in my work to depict both frustration and relief in the search for comfort. She is more comfortable than I ever will be, but as a whippet, a breed of sight hound, she is known for her need for additional accommodations to be comfortable in her body, just like myself. My dog acts as an accessible entry point within the compositions. I capture images that are just between the two of us, and focus on moments of closeness, daily exhaustion, and unrelenting eye contact. I depict Velvet in moments that I believe she is sensitive to my physical state and attempting to comfort me in times of distress. This can be through physical contact, intentional distractions, or her humorous personality. The act of documenting her in our isolated, private moments allows me to share an additional level of vulnerability from both of us. Not just a woman and her dog, but a symbiotic relationship between beings comforting each other.