I'm so sorry, East.

About seven years ago, I got a call from a number I didn't recognise.

'Hi, I'm calling on behalf of R. She won't be able to make your next scheduled session, but she will be in touch.'

I was left wondering what the heck had happened for a couple of months, until she sent me an email where she explained that she was on compassionate leave following a family bereavement.

She had been forthcoming in telling me that she had not experienced a close loss when we first started working together.

When she returned to work in mid-September, she made a point of telling me that I could still talk about what I needed to discuss.

'I don't want you to feel uncomfortable.'

She has since shared elements of her own process and remembrance as a way of helping me discover what might work in terms of paying tribute to my friend.

In a scenario where I knew what was going on, I'd probably lean heavily on my journal and spaces like this...as I did at the time.

I hope you can be gentle with yourself in how you navigate this.

Take care,

Lost