Fiona Raynes

A Heartfelt Reflection on Loss a Year on Remembering 14/10/2024 The memory of 14th October 2024 is etched into my heart with an unyielding clarity. That day, my dad passed away right in front of me and my mum, his hand clasped tightly in ours. In those final moments, the world seemed to stand still – no miraculous chorus of angelic voices, no sudden revelation; only an overwhelming, aching silence enveloped us. We watched as the light faded from his eyes, the gentle strength of his hand finally letting go, and we knew, even as the tears fell, that death had not brought anything new or mystical. It was simply an absence, a void where once there was warmth, laughter, and love. The sadness that followed was immense – a heaviness settling deep within our bones, the kind that cannot be shaken. Bereft is the only word that comes close to capturing the emptiness we felt, wandering through the house that echoed with memories, trying to make sense of a world without him in it. We clung to each other, mum and I, knowing that our shared grief was the only solace we could offer one another. Some days, it felt as if the sadness might swallow us whole, and yet, in our sorrow, we found a quiet strength – the kind forged in love and memory, honouring his life even as we mourned his passing.