Bethenny Frankel Reflects on Dennis Shields' Death One Year Later

Bethenny Frankel is looking back at a very dark time from last year.

"The Real Housewives of New York" star took to Instagram Saturday to pay tribute to her ex-boyfriend Dennis Shields, who died of an overdose last August.

"One year ago today, I woke up to a beautiful sunny day with @biggysmallz by the pool, and my world crumbled and turned upside down in an instant," Frankel captioned a photo of Shields with their dogs. "A man Dennis, who I loved and respected, who was in my life for 30 years unexpectedly passed away."

"Dennis insisted we adopt biggy AND smallz for my daughter Peanut," she continued. "He simply couldn't imagine separating them. We racked our brains staying up late coming up with the perfect name for two dogs from the same litter with very different body types. Thing 1 & Thing 2 was an option but Peanut found it degrading. Lenny & Squiggy was a good one but I knew it would only appeal to the over 40 set."

"Then at 5am, Dennis was waiting for me to wake up and in his stronger than Tequila New Yawk accent said 'BIGGY AND SMALLZ' and two stars were born," she added. "He loved these dogs and the feelings were mutual. They were particularly fond of his salty bald head. At times, it seemed like he and they spoke the same language and they were the only ones who understood him."

Frankel then reminisced on her relationship with Shields, who she was "on-and-off" with for years.

"He was a loving, sweet, gentle, brilliant, complicated, hilarious, creative and supportive man," she said. "He is missed terribly by so many but lives on in his friends and family and furry loved ones.

"I am a different person and in a different emotional place than I was a year ago, and the wounds have begun to heal but the scar will remain on my heart forever," Frankel concluded. "RIP, August 10. #Unforgettable"

Shields was found dead at the age of 51 in his Trump Tower condo following an overdose on last August. The New York Police Department told TooFab at the time that emergency medical services arrived at Dennis' Manhattan high-rise at 9:19 a.m. local time, where a man was found unconscious and unresponsive.

Frankel spoke out about Shields' death on Twitter sixteen days after his passing.

"It's hard to breathe & I appreciate you giving me the space & support to try to do so," she wrote on Twitter. "It's excruciating-sudden death is no closure & constant ?s & memories. Our relationship is current so it's painfully raw. Trying to stay healthy & move through it w tears & close friends. Xo."

It was revealed during last season's "RHONY," which began with Frankel's breaking down over Shields' sudden passing, that the Bravo star was engaged to Shields. Frankel's grief and mourning was a large part of Season 11. (To get refreshed on what went down, click here.)

Frankel has been dating the real estate developer and film producer Paul Bernon since last fall.

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