When this swallow was struck by a car, her companion did something no one expected from a bird.

What witnesses saw next left them speechless.

Scroll down to discover this heart-wrenching scene in the first comment

Love stories don’t always have happy endings. For those who believe animals are incapable of feeling love or compassion, this story—captured by a photographer—might just change their minds.

The grief felt by this bird reflects the incredible emotions animals were once thought incapable of experiencing.

When a female swallow flew too low—dangerously low—she was hit by a car and crashed onto the road. Her partner did something no one expected from a bird. He rushed to her side, clearly distressed… Seeing that she was still moving, he brought her food, but it made no difference.

He tried to lift her to move her off the road, but all his efforts were in vain. When he realized she was slipping away, he cried out loudly, flapping his wings.

The feeling of losing a loved one is one of the most chilling realities anyone can face.

These photographs capture the sorrow that overcame the male. In truth, it is more frightening to survive than to live on without the one you loved.