Finding healing after my friend died
Her name was Lily. We had been coworkers at my first job and had worked together every weekend. Lily was always so helpful, and she went the extra mile to make sure our customers were well cared for. She was a wonderful person to talk to—and a wonderful friend.
As the summer of my junior year approached, I got an amazing opportunity to attend a high school for Christian Scientists in Colorado. It was an experience I couldn’t pass up, and I decided to go. But while I was off at school, I got a call that Lily had passed away suddenly. I hadn’t been home for a long time, and hadn’t seen Lily in an even longer time, so the news hit me hard.
I felt lost and struggled with the pain of her absence. It felt like not only the end of her life but also a permanent end to a chapter in my life. I was forced to face the reality that if I ever decided to return to the life I’d left behind at home, she would not be there to welcome me back. On top of that, I couldn’t even attend her funeral in person.
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