When my 5-year-old son passed away in 2020, my world fell into a silence I still can’t fully describe. My closest friend tried to comfort me, often telling me to keep moving forward, even when my heart wasn’t ready. With time, I learned to cope, though the sadness never truly faded. Two months later, she suddenly moved to another state for a new job, leaving faster than I could process.
She kept in touch, sending updates about settling in and starting fresh. Her messages were gentle reminders that healing doesn’t happen all at once. One afternoon, I decided to surprise her with a visit, hoping it would bring comfort to both of us. But when she opened the door, she went pale, almost startled. A strange heaviness settled in my chest.
She stepped aside, and as I walked into her living room, my breath caught. On a small shelf sat a framed photo of my son. Beside it was a drawing he had made—one I thought I’d lost during the chaos of those painful months. My friend stood quietly, watching my reaction.
With tears in my eyes, she explained that she had taken the photo and drawing to keep them safe. She worried they might get misplaced while I was struggling just to survive each day. She had planned to return them when she felt I was stronger.
In that moment, I realized she hadn’t been pushing me to “move on.” She had been protecting a piece of my heart. Grief may change our paths, but true friendship walks beside us, no matter the distance.
