Widowhood, I Didn't Ask For This

I am officially a widow. After being married to the same man for nearly forty years, I found myself at a place I hadn't wanted to be, hadn't asked to be, and hadn't planned to be. The physical loss of my love, hero, and best friend was devastating, but the fear of a future without him is terrifying. All our hopes, dreams, and plans are gone.

As a married couple, we were a team. He had my back, and I had his. Now there is a huge void, and all the uncomforting platitudes voiced by relatives an...