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.
Cake Scraps of Devotion
Egyptian goddess, Isis, had a deep devotion to her husband Osiris and her son Horus, eventually realizing that devotion can become an unhealthy obsession. Similar to Isis, my mother would learn that too much of a good thing can destroy a person and the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
By Cherokee Vi5 years ago in Families
Just a Cake
"It's just a cake," she said to herself as she stared at the cake on her countertop. She lightly tapped the fork on top of the faded recipe card, contemplating what the first taste would be like. Would it be as good as she remembered? Tears welled in her eyes as she thought about taking a bite. She wiped her tears, quickly put foil over the pan, and decided to save the cake for another time.
By Danielle J Newcombe5 years ago in Families
Happy Birthday Laney
I can’t believe you turn eight today— the same day that Dad turns two years dead. Your eyes glisten with amusement as mine reflect hesitant tears. I am distracted by my phone buzzing. I know it’s Ethan again. I leave the phone in my pocket, not knowing what to say to him.
By Morgan Nicole5 years ago in Families
Vivaldi and Chocolate Cake
Nothing mends a broken heart better than a piece of Gran’s homemade chocolate cake. When I was seven years old, our cat, Leonard, ran away from home. Dad found him in the road. A car got him. Leonard always did like to take risks. We buried him in our backyard under the old oak tree, and I would visit him there every day. After we buried him, Gran whipped up her famous chocolate cake and let me lick the bowl. She said, “Gracie, you can’t live your life worrying about death because that’s no life at all.” I don’t think Leonard was worrying about death when he crossed that busy street. Gran gave me a great big hug and told me I could eat as much cake as I wanted. Dad wasn’t too happy, considering I wasn’t hungry for dinner.
By Elizabeth Cronin5 years ago in Families
Little Maria
Little Maria couldn’t wait to finish gymnastics today. All Maria could think about was the smell of last July 4th, as she was sweating and practicing new techniques. Gymnastics was every Monday and Thursday at 6 (p.m.), except next week when it would be closed for the holiday. This year the 4th of July fell on a Sunday, even still, Maria’s lessons would be postponed for an entire week after, which today, didn’t seem to matter to her in the slightest.
By Brandon Rodelo5 years ago in Families
For Mom
There are days I don't have to mark on the calendar to remember. Today is one of those days. I still remember where I was when I heard the news. The feelings that welled up like a volcano about to explode inside of myself before pouring out like lava after what felt like the longest moment of my life. The disbelief that this could be happening. I had just seen you a couple days prior, right before our camping trip. How could you have left this world so quickly, and without saying goodbye?
By Melissa, the Empress5 years ago in Families
The Last Birthday
Sarah Robinson took a seat closest to the window at the coffee shop. She slowly sipped her hot caramel macchiato and broke off a crumb of her scone. She smiled for a moment as she remembered how last month how she shared her orange flavored snack with her son, Julius. Her joy quickly faded and a frown took its place. The coffee shop was busy with sounds of grinding and foaming of drinks. The air was filled with a pleasant aroma. Usually this makes Sarah happy and relaxed, but today she found it was causing her grief.
By Stephanie Colella 5 years ago in Families
The Grieving Process
It was our first Christmas without her. It hadn’t been the virus, which had mercifully left our family mostly untouched, though it came to affect us in different way, heartbreaking in its own right. No, it was nothing so complex and deadly. In the end it was a rug. An ordinary, stupid, wipe-your-feet-before-you-come-inside ugly shag rug. How can such an insignificant thing, utterly forgotten since it was bought and slapped down by the slider door, how can that have ripped our lives in two? Simple. A raised corner had caught her foot. She had fallen, sprained her ankle. Then it was the boot, and lost mobility, and rehab, and then she just didn’t have the strength.
By Christopher Abel5 years ago in Families
The Finale
It was a particularly cold year in Seattle, Washington, and Christmas was closing in fast. I haven't done any of my shopping yet, but I only had my dad and my grandma to buy gifts for because we were still fairly new to the region. We had just lost my mother (Cathy)to cancer 3 months before. My father Henry and my grandmother Sarah thought it best that we sell the old house and move here from Oregon to start fresh. Truth be told I was very angry that we had to leave the only home I have ever known, but grandma Sasa(that is what I called her when I was a baby because I couldn't quite say Sarah at two years old) told me that living in that house was very painful for my dad, so this would be best to help us all heal from watching my poor wonderful mother waste away to her death, she had metastatic Cancer that had spread to other parts of her body, so there was nothing they could do to save her. Grandmother said we could remember all the good things about her in a new place without constantly remembering the bad. I agreed, but I really loved my momma and missed her terribly, that house was the last place I saw her alive, but she wasn't well. My name is Carolina and I am a 15 year old with a broken heart.
By C. M. Sears5 years ago in Families
