grief
Losing a family member is one of the most traumatic life events; Families must support one another to endure the five stages of grief and get through it together.
A New Life
Dressed in a lovely flowing black dress I walked solemnly to the celebration. Aunt Asteria was my most favorite aunt, even though she technically was not family. Asteria was my late mother’s best friend, they spent so much time together that she was basically my other mom. It happened late last year Asteria was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer, the doctors gave her one year to live, she didn’t make it one year. After her diagnosis, she went straight to chemotherapy and from then her health deteriorated quickly. Now here I am walking into her funeral, walking into my second mother’s funeral. As one can imagine I was a mess. The funeral was an elegant affair celebrating her life. I thought I was the last one left at the funeral so I left my purse and phone on my seat and went to say goodbye one last time. Walking out of the funeral I was numb and did not realize that there was a paper in between my phone and purse.
Samantha GriesingerPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesThe Toad.
1. It was a toad. It was late when I took Maxi outside last night to relieve himself before bedtime. I was sitting on the couch falling asleep to Storage wars and was finally able to catch my breath after a long day. Maxi, as is his habit, appeared out of nowhere on my right side by jumping up on the ottoman, dropping one of my slippers in my lap along with play barking at me, menacingly, and baring his teeth. I said to him, "OK, OK, I take you outside" and moved to get up quickly. He immediately stopped barking, jumped off the ottoman, and as I started to walk, ran around me in a quick circle. His doggy eyes were very excited as he continued circling me, panting while I lumbered toward the front door, the toes on my left foot half numb from neuropathy.
Roxanne Jacqueline MooneyPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesMom's Little Book
Mom’s Little Black Book life within the pages by: Elizabeth Montaño It was impeccable timing, that roaring clap of thunder as the casket lid came down. That awful, heart-cleaving sound of finality, muffled by Mother Nature. It was a blessing in disguise. I had so dreaded that gentle thud, knowing how much you would’ve hated it.
Liz MontanoPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesAll The Little Things
The old couch in the corner starts to swim before my eyes. The dust filled air and the light filtering in through the old windows gives everything an aged yellow hue. I can’t believe we let Aunt Lou become such a packrat. We knew she was dying, but we couldn’t bring ourselves to prepare. She died almost a year ago and we’re still sorting through all of her things. The thought sent a jolt of pain to my heart. Almost a year and I miss her everyday. My mom said it would pass with time, but I still feel her absence everyday. I look up to stop the tears from falling knowing that if I start the garage will never be emptied. Everything that was fit to be given was claimed by Aunt Lou’s friends and our relatives months ago. All that’s left is the odds and ends that nobody seems to want. I know it’s all junk and most of it will need to be thrown away. But I couldn’t bring myself to do that. I can still feel her here amongst all of her things. How could I part with even one little thing if looking at it would summon her spirit?
Emma BarfieldPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesWith Love, Aunt Vivian
At eighty-six years old, Vivian Routledge had no intention of dying anytime soon. This was a source of continual disappointment whenever she returned from her semi-annual doctor visits with a clean bill of health. The family could only hope that the catastrophic illness she surely suffered from had gone undetected. With any luck, their elderly aunt might surprise them at Christmas with the gift of a heart attack.
Lucy Elizabeth KeatsPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesA million pennies
Coping with Marilyn’s death was something close to a laggard crawl in fictitious quicksand; torturous, as I was nothing but a few pieces of a person demanding to drown. Only grief could make the layered nature of life seem so incredibly shallow: seconds mirrored hours and there I was being tossed around in a circle of the same defeated counselors again and again until they eventually threw my case in hands of time. They are not to blame. I did not want to be helped because to be helped meant to reach a conclusion I was not ready to commit to. It’s been three years now. I am seventy two years old but I still whistle before I walk in to let her know I’m home. I still expect to embraced by the ambrosial perfume of flowers her hands had cultured outside our minuscule house in the village. From anemones and orchids to chrysanthemums and skeleton flowers; Flowers that disappear upon minimal contact with water, leaving behind only a slight outline of a flower; a slight outline of a human being. It looked like an atelier, a museum of life as it eventually ended up mirroring its cycle.
Home No Longer
The house seemed somehow smaller than ever. I stood by my car, remembering all the other occasions I had been here. All the laughter, all the excitement, all the joy.
Paul ShrimptonPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesMy Father's House
I expected to feel sad, or angry, or maybe even scared as I stared at the grey door in front of me. This was my father’s house. My biological father at least. A man I had never met and never even knew existed until five days ago.
Diana McLarenPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesWishes Come True
I stared out the window of my small third story apartment, watching the seagulls land on the beach. I was supposed to be packing. Instead, I stared outside, thinking about my life.
Nikolena ConoverPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesUnexpected Conversations
Charlie had been sick for the last four years. His back was in constant pain. Lily knew that he was hurting, but she had no idea how extenuating his circumstances really were. Charlie had carefully omitted his true health issues from his wife. He did not want her to worry about him. They had lived many happy years together. Forty years of his sixty years on Earth had been spent with Lily.
Rebecca PittmanPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesThe October Surprise
“Everything’s ready. Are we going to do this or what?” “Just wait a second. It doesn’t feel right, it’s not supposed to be like this.”
Walter RheinPublished 3 years ago in FamiliesThe Frog
THE FROG Sam stared at the small black notebook sitting on the kitchen table in her mother’s home. It had only been a year since her father died, yet, to her, it felt like another life. She flipped the book open to the first page and read.
Annaliese PathPublished 3 years ago in Families