Loss is a strange beast. Sometimes – oftentimes - sadness isn’t enough to describe how we feel. Sometimes sadness is entirely absent. Regret, guilt, anger, frustration, relief, comfort, confusion, sympathy, curiosity and downright indifference (which I can only assume was some sort of coping mechanism). All of these things I’ve felt following the loss of a loved one.

My greatest fear is losing one of my parents – who I have a somewhat shaky relationship with – after we’ve said terrible things to each other and parted ways. Or perhaps I never get to say goodbye because I decided not to call them that one day or stop at their house when I easily could have. As a result of this growing fear and the fact that they’re getting on now, I’ve slowly adopted an attitude where I’m trying to rebuild my bridges rather than continue to burn them. I hope to expand on this one day and apply the same policy to less immediate family too.

Life really is too short. Never take people for granted unless you have a damn good reason for it. Hug them regularly, tell them you care, make little gestures (even if it’s as simple as making a cuppa from time to time). At least that way, when their time comes, you know you can say you did your utmost to take advantage of that time you spent with them, no matter how small.