When I lost Darren, I realized grief isn’t what you expect.

No one prepares you for how lonely it feels. For how tired you are, even when you’re doing “nothing.”

No one tells you that grief can make you feel guilty for smiling or laughing — like you’re betraying their memory by living.

I wish someone had told me that it’s okay to let joy back in. That you don’t have to stay broken to honor someone you lost.

I wish someone had told me that grief would show up in waves — triggered by a song, a scent, a random Tuesday.

Mostly, I wish I knew it was okay to ask for help.

If you’re grieving, I want you to know:

You are not alone.

You are not doing it wrong.

And it’s okay to heal.