Donatello
When one loses someone dear to them, it is commonly accepted that one will go through five stages to grief. Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. Some people go through these stages faster than others, experiencing over months what takes others years of their lives. Some people skip one stage and experience the others more poignantly; still others can sometimes remain in the same stage, unable to move on until something or someone helps them to move beyond it. There is no roadmap to grief, there are no signs showing you the way, there are no rules. It is difficult to predict how someone will react to death and to grief, it is difficult to say what is normal behavior and what is not.. because everyone grieves in different ways. Some take years to heal from their loss, others months…and some never do truly heal.
In the end it is the final stage that is of the most importance, like the sun shining in all of its glory after the wrath of a storm has passed. It is the hope after the despair, the comfort after the pain…it doesn't mean that one forgets, or lets go of the memories of the ones they loved It only means the remembrance of good times, and the recognition that while there has been a loss and that loss has been great..one can still hold on to that loved one by keeping them in their hearts and living their lives as best they can in their memories. After the trauma, and the grief; after Denial, Anger, Bargaining and Depression; it is Acceptance that matters the most..for without it the cycle never breaks and those that are still alive are not living. Acceptance does not mean forgetting, it does not mean the pain and the grief vanish; it is merely the beginning of what is to come afterwards. It is only a start. Acceptance is first day of the rest of one's life.
It is difficult to tell where our lives will lead us from here on out. It is difficult to say which roads we will have to travel, what dangers and challenges we will face. All we really can say is that we have taken the first step down the paths that will lead us through the rest of our lives. We will face what comes when it comes, and we will face it together.
Yesterday was yesterday, tomorrow is tomorrow..but today..
Today is our first day.
There it's finally finished. It took time, blood, sweat and plenty of tears but it's done. Thanks to everyone who helped out on the story and thanks again to Dimi for her help in looking over the story.
Hope you enjoyed.
Lady Rain