I’m sitting here, calmly typing this and it’s been 622 days since my husband died.
I know exactly how many days because of my regular blog.
But to think that I can type this without tears would have been unthinkable a year ago.
I began writing about my pain just over a month after the accident.
I blogged everything because I knew I’d always be able to find it … the internet being forever and all.
Now I read those posts back and tears stream down my face.
Was that me?
How did I ever survive such pain?
How did I keep my kids functioning and how on earth did they get from those first jagged, razor-sharp days to these days of a duller, aching pain?
(Pain which still flares up both rapidly and unexpectedly but the jagged edges are not quite so sharp).
and the short answer is that I don’t really know how we got here.
… but I do know that time has helped.
I do know that friends and family have helped.
I do know that routine has helped.
and I do know that blogging has helped.
My blog helped (and continues to help) me pour out the hurt, anger, fear, rage, devastation, worry and horror of this journey.
…and *this* blog helped me see that I am not alone in these feelings.
Widow’s Voice was one of the first blogs I read in The After.
I’ve cried and nodded along to more posts than I can count.
I’ve marvelled at how brave other widows and widowers are.
I’ve recognised similarities and differences between my journey and the varying journeys we are all on (for our spouses were unique … as we are … so no two of us are on the exact same path).
I’ve laughed at the dark humour.
I’ve rejoiced at the finding of new love, but seen that it’s not a magic bullet that takes away this pain.
But most of all, I’ve realised that
I
Am
Not
Alone.
…and nor are you.