Mirror Mirror

At the End We Find Peace: A Study of Grief and Camaraderie

Mirror, Mirror by Jennifer Allen

“I thought I could describe a state; make a map of sorrow. Sorrow, however, turns out to be not a state but a process.” ~ CS Lewis

Sorrow (noun) ● distress caused by loss, affliction, disappointment, etc.; grief, sadness, or regret. ● a cause or occasion of grief or regret, as an affliction, a misfortune, or trouble ● the expression of grief, sadness, disappointment, or the like

I still remember the first time I truly experienced grief in my life.

An 8-year-old me traveled with my parents down to South Carolina to visit my grandfather… for the last time. We walked into the house and almost instinctively I could sense that something was amiss. The house had always carried a peculiar aura of cheer and warmth. It was a household filled with a mixture of sights, sounds, and smells that made it so extraordinary and inviting.

But this time… the house felt cold, dark, and downright unsettling.

It wasn’t until we walked down the hall and finally reached the master bedroom that I discovered why.

My father stopped us right before the closed door and warned me that the sight of my grandfather may appear shocking at first glance. With that, he opened the door and my eyes finally caught exactly what I’d been told to prepare for. Now, keep in mind that my paternal grandfather was a stocky, barrel-chested man who was considerably stronger than he looked. His Irish heritage had molded him into a man who could be both amiable and stubborn. He also had a humorous charm about him that was incredibly contagious.

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Maneesh Pathak

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