In the Forest of Echoes: Coming Home to Yourself

In the year following Derek's passing, I found myself enveloped in a fog. 

My mind, in its attempt to shield me from the unbearable pain, began to forget the simplest tasks—how to use a fork, how to navigate to familiar places. 

Yet, amidst this haze, memories of Derek remained vivid. 

I could recall every conversation, every shared moment, and the night that altered my life forever.

I existed in a liminal space—a Forest of Echoes—where the past reverberated, and the present felt distant. 

This in-between realm was both comforting and haunting, a place where grief and love intertwined.

But I knew I couldn't reside there indefinitely. 

With small, deliberate steps, I began to reorient myself to the world: leaving notes to remember daily routines, programming my GPS to guide me to familiar destinations, and leaning on the support of loved ones.

Grief manifests uniquely for each of us. 

Some may find solace in that in-between space, while others may seek to move forward. 

There's no right or wrong way to grieve. 

What's essential is acknowledging our feelings and allowing ourselves the grace to heal.

For me, the journey through the Forest of Echoes was a path back to myself—a reminder that even in the depths of sorrow, we can find our way home. 

And in doing so, we honor those we've lost by living fully, carrying their memories with us as we continue our own stories.