Bill recalled his feelings and his thoughts about those first
few weeks:
The funeral passed by in a blur. Family and friends came
from afar. A week passed. Family and friends returned
to their normal lives. We were on our own now. No
longer a full family. Yes, on our own. I couldn’t face the
reality. I tried to pretend my brother’s death was a lie,
and that I would soon wake up from this awful
nightmare. I imagined how Cathal would reappear at
any moment. I imagined how I would take hold of him
and take him away where I could protect him for the rest
of this life. I cared about nothing else. But, as the weeks
went on Cathal did not reappear. No matter how much
I wished or dreamt, I could not change the situation. I
felt an overwhelming sense of loss. No one could
possibly imagine how I missed him. I would have given
my life for his. I felt helpless knowing how much my
family was suffering.
Extract from When a Child Dies. Footsteps of a Grieving Family. Published by Veritas.
Tags: bereavement, death of a child, grief