I started reading your words on HYWC during your takeover. I have not lost a spouse…but a sibling (what I consider to be another type of life partner). Much of what you wrote rings true to me. I also feel a strong parallel when I think about my sister’s young son (he’s 4 today, my sister died when he was 21 months). I tried to join HYWC soon after my sister’s death because I found myself relating most to widows (but, I soon learned, their admissions criteria are pretty strict…which I understand).

I say this not to try to minimize your pain, the magnitude of Brian’s absence or how he should be here with you and everyone who loves him. Only to say that there’s someone else out there with a different type of loss who finds herself feeling a lot of what you feel.