I saw this beautiful but emotive poem, which perfectly explains how we feel. The milestones and family events keep coming and it opens up that wound, that the one person you want to share it with isn’t here. You want to be happy, but feel guilty and a new wave of grief comes over you knowing they are missing all of these important life victories. It’s hard not to feel ripped off.

My heart
In all its brokenness
Will always look for you

Chasing down
A familiar scent
Following the trail
Of a favorite memory,
Relentless in its pursuit.

Every morning,
Feeling the ache
Of that now familiar wound

Of navigating a life, a story
Whose chapters were too few.

But, what a legacy you’ve left
In the chapters you were here,
And what a story that you’ve left
A love that perseveres.

My heart
In all its hopefulness
Will always look for you

Cherishing these
Sometimes painful memories,
Holding them tightly
To feel you with me too.

Your absence brings
A deep and lingering ache
But your love
Persists here too,
A bond that will never break
That will comfort and continue.

So, it seems
No matter what I do,
My heart will always look for you.
In everything I do.
In every memory, old and new.

My heart will always look for you.

-Liz Newman