“Creativity is the essential response to grief.” —Henry Seiden, Ph.D.

I didn’t stumble across the above quote until years later, but it describes my reaction to losing the love of my life at age twenty-nine. She and I had known each other for years, lived together, then bought a home; had planned a forever future.

Too bad forever never lasts as long as we hope.

Though, I will admit. Despite the tears, the regret, the months of mourning, the endless lament of “what could have been” – there is a happy ending to this story.

But it won’t arrive for over two decades. More about William Northey’s story.