Stories are our greatest assets as humans. They resonate deep into our hearts, providing comfort and showing us that we are not alone. Read stories and insights on grief and the human experience.
It's been four years since the kids and I had to say goodbye to Ariana, and it's hard to believe it has been that long. Some days, it feels like it just happened, and most days, it feels like my life with Ariana was some alternate
It was impossible to hold together the duality of my emotions at that moment. The desperate desire for this pain to end so we could escape the hell of hospice and also the utter terror and brokenness of no longer having her by my side.
My hands lifted towards my face, clenching the decorative porcelain tea cup. After a slow, intentional sip, I pushed the cup into my cheeks and allowed the cup’s warmth to nourish my panicked nervous system. It was an hour past the time Ariana was supposed to be home. It
My sister passed out the markers and balloons. We wrote our love notes to Ariana, scribbling all over them. "Ready. One, two, three...go!!" I shouted. We released the balloons. They floated up and faded into the skyline.
10/10/2020 10 days since death This was written and read at the funeral by CJ This was the most challenging thing to write, not because of the context but because of the subject. There are no words I could use that would properly describe who and what Ariana
10/07/2020 7 days since death I reached over to Cam and grabbed the TV remote from the nightstand. I had little space to move, squeezed in between all the kids. I clicked the remote, and the TV lit up the room. The show started. There was no arguing
10/05/2020 5 days since death I reached for the handle and pulled. The door resisted. I pulled harder until it finally popped open. I stepped one foot in, twisted the knob, and quickly jumped back out of the way. The water started to rain down onto the cold,
10/04/2020 4 days since death I sank deeper into the chair, my arms held tightly around Grace’s waist, who was sitting on my lap. My face pressed into her back, my eyes closed. I listened to the voices filling my living room. Everyone’s eyes were fixed
The walls pressed in on me. They felt so close but not closer than the papers, boxes, and decorations that cluttered the office. The heat was unbearable. I had no other layers I could take off. At that moment, I would rather have stood outside in the snow. I pushed
10/02/2020 2 days since death Pain shot up through my arm, originating at my thumb as I swiped up on my phone. I turned over, grabbed a pillow, and placed it in front of me. I let the phone rest on the bed, propped up by the pillow.
9/30/2020 0 days since death “The unknown is now known. My best friend is finally at rest. My heart is physically broken but our love will transcend time and space. I will carry her with me, always.” - 9.30.2020 11:08AM The daytime distractions quieted down,
He continued his thought, elbows resting on the table, fork in hand, with the food barely holding on. It had been minutes since he wrestled the food onto his fork. I was staring at his face, nodding in agreement, noticing the dangling food out of the corner of my eye,
I entered the room with my arms hanging heavily at my side and my lips pressed tightly together. "Hey CJ, I'll be right back, okay?" "Mmhm," I replied, lifting one side of my face and slightly tilting my head. A few more steps into
“We are all just our ancestor's dreams, and our success represents those dreams coming true.” - Wu-Tang: An American Saga
It’s been too long since I last posted. Shit, it’s been too long since I last wrote anything. This isn’t healthy for me. Whether to publish or something private, writing is one of my foundational habits to balance my mind and spirit. It is my mental health.
