Funeral begins after the Burial!

Yeah, you got that right!

Death is a respecter of no man or professionalism. On that fateful day when a the dreadful call comes the workplaces and friends are quick to share the condolences messages and give Compassionate days to help the staff send their kin off and even have some last expense come their way not forgetting the huge company representation during the day of the burial a good clap for the good organizations.

I have experienced loss not once but four times of the closest people and the most recent being a great woman ,my mum(Grandma). On the burial day ,once the casket is below the soil and the beautiful roses lie on top of the fresh grave and within no time the compound is empty that is the beginning of mourning. Sooner than later the reality of the absence checks in. The emptiness of everything including the compound, their clothes well folded in their bedroom, their empty bed ,their empty sitting places, and the fresh grave within the compound.

It is sad that the society expects the bereaved to heal and soon they put the beautiful flowers and immediately pull back to normalcy. But for those left behind, normalcy is a distant dream. The days that follow the burial are filled with a haunting silence, a silence that screams louder than any words of sympathy ever could. The rooms that once echoed with laughter and life are now ghostly reminders of what was and what will never be again. Each corner of the house holds a memory, and every item, no matter how mundane, becomes a relic of the past life shared.

Grief doesn't follow a schedule. It doesn't adhere to the timeline that society seems to impose. The compassionate leave ends, colleagues return to their routines, and the world moves on, but the bereaved remain suspended in their sorrow, navigating through a fog of loss. The initial days of mourning give way to a long, arduous journey of healing, where the pain of absence becomes a constant companion.

Returning to work can feel like an insurmountable task. The once-familiar environment now seems alien, and the simple act of functioning in a professional capacity can be overwhelming. The condolences, though well-meaning, can start to feel hollow. They remind the bereaved of the gap between their internal turmoil and the external world's expectations. The evenings are the hardest. The quiet hours when the world is still, and the mind is free to wander. The grief that was kept at bay during the busy daylight hours comes rushing back with a vengeance. It's during these moments that the reality of loss sinks in deeper. The phone calls and visits dwindle, leaving a void that is filled only with memories and longing.

Every holiday, birthday, and anniversary become a painful reminder of what has been lost. The traditions that once brought joy now bring tears. It's a time when the bereaved must learn to find new ways to honor their loved one while grappling with the ongoing waves of grief.

Support groups and therapy can offer a lifeline, providing a space where the bereaved can share their pain without fear of judgment or expectation. It's a place where they can find others who understand that grief is not something that can be neatly packaged and put away after the funeral. It's a lifelong process that changes shape over time but never truly leaves.

Ultimately, the journey through grief is deeply personal and unique to everyone. There is no right or wrong way to mourn, and no timeline that must be followed. The most important thing is to give oneself permission to feel, to grieve, and to heal in whatever way feels right. To understand that it's okay to not be okay, and that in time, the sharp edges of grief will soften, even if the ache never fully disappears.

Life after loss is forever altered, but it is still life. It's a new chapter, one that requires immense strength and resilience. And though the pain of absence is profound, the love and memories shared with the lost loved one continue to provide a source of comfort and strength, guiding the bereaved through their darkest days and into a future where they can find peace once again.

Please share your grieving journey on the comments section.