As a survivor of a tragic loss, you will never forget the moment that you found out (or for some of us found) that your loved one had left this Earth. It is burned into our memory, leaving a scar on our heart. 
What we rarely discuss is the pain associated with the what would have or should have been. Whether we are conscious of it or not, we had already created future memories with the person we lost. We never thought that they would not be present for not only big life events, but the small every day events. Part of the grief journey is not only acknowledging that our loved one left this Earth tragically, but also acknowledging that our future has been altered. It is painful, and it isn’t fair. For me, I began to heal when I realized that while my dad will not be physically present, he can still be a part of the memories we create. Our relationship continues, it just doesn’t look the same.
