*hugs you firmly and sighs* ...

*Hugs back* I know. It's difficult to know what to say. But sometimes, I think the pain is good. If it didn't hurt, that's something to worry about.

I suppose that's true. I sure know it still hurts for me when I think about Felix...

It hurts me too, obviously. Shortly after all this went down, and I was just consumed with grief, I found myself in a support chat for those who had lost someone suddenly. One of the members said something that rang very true.

When it comes to situations like this, you never get over it. You get through it.

The fact is, it's probably never going to stop hurting. All we can do is find somewhere in our souls where that pain is allowed to live in peace. We cannot reject it, because to do so would be to dishonor his memory.

We have one another. You can always come to me anytime you need a shoulder. I'm glad to provide it.

*hugs* Thank you very much for your kind and insightful words, and thank you even more for your offer to talk, which means a lot to me. *smiles*

[And just to be clear, in my last reply of course I didn't mean to imply that you would be hurting less than anyone else. I hope that my last reply cannot be misunderstood in this sense.]

Of course not. I never thought you did. Have no worries.

*smiles and hugs*