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.
Her
Summer was about to start, a new schedule for everyone. First week didn’t start off to well. He didn’t feel good, still made it to his destination but called it a night. That next morning I checked in, he had my daughter with him, part of the new schedule. Minimal words exchanged, not abnormal for communication between us. He ended up not going to work. He hadn’t missed a day of work in all the years we were married and all the years we weren’t. After my initial playful thought of pigs flying, it sank in. Something was wrong. She was ok, so I didn’t think much of it.
By Candace Gomez5 years ago in Families
The Funeral
Only about 20 people came to the funeral in total. Sean panned around the room as mourners gathered into the funeral hall. It was quiet. Everyone was holding in their tears for the time being. People came up to the deceased’s wife and family and offered their condolences and sat in their respective seats. Just before it began, the wife leaned over to Sean and said, “I’m really sorry to ask this of you, but I don’t think i will be able to make my speech later. Could you do it for me?” Sean stared at his sister-in-law blankly, tired after sleepless nights of planning and the years before that when the cancer was slowly eating away at his older brother. Without a sound, he nodded and faced the front again. A silent frustration came over him.
By Eugene Shin5 years ago in Families
My Mom
It wasn’t easy, when she passed away. At the time I was 21 years old, and working at Walmart. I wasn’t in school because I was focusing on working to help provide for my mom and brothers. The day I woke up, I was woken up by my brother telling me to call an ambulance. It’s kinda hazy but I ran to the room, and saw mom on the floor, so I quickly called the police and packed her clothes as well as me. I was hesitant on going to work that day. I was going to go because if not I Walmart would have pointed me even if I was at the hospital with my mom. With my friends telling me to stay at the hospital with my mom, I did so. I am glad I did stay with my mom thinking back on it now.
By Erica Pugh5 years ago in Families
Jessica’s Journals
As soon as Jessica could write more than a few sentences, her father started giving her journals and told her the best thing she could do for herself was to write things down that she couldn’t tell him in person. He tried to be there for her through everything: every sports event, every performance with school, her birthday parties and slumber parties. Her father was the one who came when she was sick and when she was in need of a friend. He did try to be the father she needed, but sometimes life got in the way. Well so did death really. She was seventeen when he died and she was left with a mother who thought being seen was far more important than anything. Her mother just had to be at the right parties and shows and on vacations and well you get the idea. Jessica continued with her journals, because it helped her miss her father a little less. It felt like she was writing directly to him.
By Gina Solomon5 years ago in Families
Real Life
The car’s suspension groaned as he sat down in the passenger seat. “Hi Grandpa, how did it go?” He grumbled without trying to form words. The little black book was tucked into the tight fist of his left hand. He kept his eyes fixed forward, but could feel Julia’s gaze resting on the notebook. A question was forming in her mouth, he could tell, but it would be unlike her to simply come out and ask; so, to keep the secret safe, he offered nothing.
By Francesca Devon Heward5 years ago in Families
An Unexpected Gift
It has been 3 years since I’d last seen my father, alive and well in person. It’s been 7 days since I’d received the phone call that he was dead, 2 days since I’d watch them lay him to rest in the ground, and an hour sitting in his hardly used office sorting through the mess of his life.
By Mandy Raquel5 years ago in Families
The Forgotten Neighbor
Sarah walked through the cemetery stopping on occasion to take a picture of a headstone and jot a few notes on her list. She enjoyed spending Sunday afternoons working on genealogy while her kids played at grandma's house. Sarah also helped others by taking pictures of headstones for a couple of websites in which descendants are able to make requests.
By Skye Paige5 years ago in Families
The Attic
Mom, you were only fifty years old… Was all I could think as I packed up my mom three-bedroom home. The very home I was raised in and the very last place that my mom took her last breath at. I looked around and shook my head at how much more I had to pack. I had no siblings; I was an only child. My dad died when I was only fourteen years old. Since then, it’s been only my mom and me. And now it was just me. I grabbed a few trash bags as I headed up to the attic. I haven’t been up there since I was a teenager. I’m twenty-five now so you can do your own math on that. To get to the attic, I had to grab a chair from the hall closet so that I can reach the string attached to the attic door. I was only 4’9, Mom use to always handle all the “tall-things” for me.
By Tyecha Duncan5 years ago in Families
