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.

My Last Breath
As I was being driven to my next stop, I glanced out the car window and saw the ocean for the first time in over six months. It was amazing, the fresh air caressed my hair, and the sun kissed my light pale skin. The car ride, the breeze, and the sun tired me out, but I can still somehow feel the pain and despair as I reached my destination. There were many birds flying away from a rooftop they look so happy and free, I wish that would be me, it was hard to walk now and hard to move around since this sickness was consuming my entire body. They call it Tyser disease, it is this small octopus animal that is inside my body consuming all my white blood cells creating havoc afterwards. I call it the octopus monster, he is maroon and purple in color and he is always hungry for flesh and enjoys sucking the life out of its host. In this case it is me, he makes me feel tired, but he told me that it will be over soon.
By Letty Castaneda5 years ago in Families
Grief and Mourning
Recently, I lost someone very close to me, and I’m not the best person when it comes to dealing with death. This has always been a subject that has made me uncomfortable. I hate seeing people die on television, and even if I don’t know them, I usually feel sad and sometimes cry for those that they left behind.
By Nicole Higginbotham-Hogue5 years ago in Families
My Alcoholic Mother Died and All I Got Was This Starbucks Mug
I have this pink and green Starbucks mug. It looks mosaic or somewhat like bathroom tile. I love it. It’s my favorite mug for a lot of reasons, but most importantly because my mom and I got it while in Seattle in 2004. We are both from Washington, but lived about 30 mins from the city so going downtown was a fun adventure for us.
By Melissa Steussy5 years ago in Families
Flittering Stars
In memory of those we've lost, whether we knew them or not, remember them or not. They are stars in the skies. Glittering above, shinning within the dark, lighting up within a constant grief that was left behind. In their wake, we look for a new way to see them, remember them. The stars that flitter in the sky is where we look. Guiding the curiosity and wonderment of children while fulfilling the solemn and sadly sweet memories of those below.
By Ria 5 years ago in Families
Dear Dad
Dear Dad, In one way, I haven’t seen you in two months. The day I picked you up on the side of the road in New Orleans. I only saw you for 19 minutes because that is how long it took to drive you to the airport to catch a flight I asked mom to get for you to go stay with your caviling family in Tennessee. I hated the thought of you going there. I could picture the soft grins you would receive served with a quick up-down glance. I gave you a hug when you got out of the car and those words, “Love you princess”, fell off your lips. I smiles and sent you off while swallowing cold heavy stones so you wouldn’t see me cry. Then you leave. A small bag in your hand and a smaller one on your back- those holding your only belongings.
By Maria Kay5 years ago in Families
One Red Rose
If you want to hear a fascinating, heartfelt, possibly awkward, sometimes funny, but inevitably emotional story, ask someone to tell you about their first love. The circumstances will differ from person to person as will the age at which it occurred. The definition of first love might vary wildly. The story may or may not involve sex. But invariably, you'll get your money's worth. Just get comfortable and be prepared to stay awhile.
By Dave Ruskjer5 years ago in Families
I lost life in 15 days
Hmmm !!! What can I say? A little about me I am new to vocal, and I am grateful for this platform as I love to write and this is the place for it.
By Shweta Menon5 years ago in Families
Baby Blues
She pushed the baby in his stupidly expensive, but utterly essential, dear! UppaBaby pram down the mews and out onto the pre-dawn boulevard. Past terraced houses with sculpted shrubbery, past the row of semi-detached with cobbled courtyards and sensible Volvo wagons and “Beware of Dog!” signs, past Edwardians, long ago converted into flats; she counted off the blue doors to her fussy infant alternately worrying she’d bundled him up too tightly and not tightly enough. She passed the Costa where a drowsy barista unstacked chairs from atop tables and she raised her hand to wave, forgetting for a moment that this was not California with its cult of friendliness or even New York where it was implied that although a burden, the coffee you ordered came with a veneer of politeness. Past the primary school which would soon echo with the screams of children with names like Lottie or Percy, whose families sent them off in matching pinnies to learn to spell honour with a ‘u’. Past the care home with its sad pebble-dashed exterior and smoking nurses speaking Sengalese to one another. They waved and so she waved back. One came down the walk to admire the baby, who had fallen asleep at last. The nurse had the most beautiful skin she had ever seen and smelled like menthol and food. She wanted to hug her, to bury her face in the woman’s neck and sob. She was so tired, she would say, and the nurse would smooth her hair and tut and give her tea and tuck her up on a sofa somewhere while someone, some other nurse with children all grown, would mind the baby.
By Kendra 5 years ago in Families
Powerful to Powerless
Did the silence mean it was going to happen again? If I held my breath, would time stop? Was it a sin to pray that he falls down the steps and break his neck?
By Bob McInnis5 years ago in Families
My Story
Losing my parents was one of the hardest things that could have happened to me. I was a child and I needed them to guide me to be the right person that I needed to be. My parents were my best friends, and they were supposed to be there to watch me grow up. I shouldn’t be dwelling on the past but sometimes its hard when a birthday, a holiday or the anniversary of their death rolls around. It’s been 15 years since I lost my mom and 14 years since I lost my dad and to this day, the pain hurts just as much as the day I lost both of them. My mom died May 4th, 2006 and my dad died March 19th, 2007. It’s hard going through life without them.
By Patricia Meredith5 years ago in Families
My Hardest Walk
There’s this song, “The Hardest Walk,” by the Jesus and Mary Chain. It’s from the 1980’s movie Some Kind of Wonderful, a movie that high school me related to enough to watch it over 60 times. The song itself is a very good one. I never used to skip listening to it when it was on. I even had it ready to go when I would ask “Alexa, play…” But now? I can’t listen to it anymore now though.
By Natalie Forrest5 years ago in Families
How to Heal Your Heart After a Pregnancy Loss
If you would have asked me when I was younger what a pregnancy loss looked like, I wouldn’t have had an answer. Sure, I would have detailed what I THOUGHT it looked like, felt like, and seemed like. I would have gone through the emotions without comprehension, without being shaken to my core. Empathy would have washed over me, covering the heart on my sleeve and deepening my understanding -- but only to a point.
By Kaylin R. Staten5 years ago in Families