When my 5-year-old son passed away in 2020, my world grew quiet in a way I still struggle to describe.
My closest friend tried to comfort me, often saying I needed to move forward, even when my heart wasn’t ready. With time, I learned to cope, even if the sadness never fully left. Two months later, she moved to another state for a new job. It happened so quickly that I barely had time to process it.
She kept in touch, sending messages about settling in and starting fresh. She encouraged me gently, reminding me that healing doesn’t happen all at once. One afternoon, I decided to surprise her with a visit, thinking it would lift both our spirits. When she opened the door, she went pale as if caught off guard. I felt a strange heaviness settle in my chest.
