Just one promise

Anger and Resentment

Hey guys and welcome back to the second chapter of Just one promise. Like before, I thank everyone who read through the first chapter (maybe with some tears) and came back for a second round. I just want to go ahead and put this here (Description below) of how the five steps are supposed to work. I should have posted this in the first chapter, but didn't think about it. Admittedly, the same disclaimers I had for the last chapter will be put here. (Future disclaimers: There will be mentions of death, suicide, depression, MPD/Schizophrenia(I have yet to work out what it really will be) and divorce.) In the mean time, here are the first two steps of Grief and loss. I have highlighted (bold) things that the reader may want to take into account while reading the story. I also apologize if this seems to take more of a personal twist then I really mean for it too.

* Keep in mind - all people grieve differently. Some people will wear their emotions on their sleeve and be outwardly emotional. Others will experience their grief more internally, and may not cry. You should try and not judge how a person experiences their grief, as each person will experience it differently.

1. Denial and Isolation

The first reaction to learning of terminal illness or death of a cherished loved one is to deny the reality of the situation. It is a normal reaction to rationalize overwhelming emotions. It is a defense mechanism that buffers the immediate shock. We block out the words and hide from the facts. This is a temporary response that carries us through the first wave of pain.

2. Anger

As the masking effects of denial and isolation begin to wear, reality and its pain re-emerge. We are not ready. The intense emotion is deflected from our vulnerable core, redirected and expressed instead as anger. The anger may be aimed at inanimate objects, complete strangers, friends or family.Anger may be directed at our dying or deceased loved one. Rationally, we know the person is not to be blamed. Emotionally, however, we may resent the person for causing us pain or for leaving us.We feel guilty for being angry, and this makes us more angry.

The doctor who diagnosed the illness and was unable to cure the disease might become a convenient target. Health professionals deal with death and dying every day. That does not make them immune to the suffering of their patients or to those who grieve for them.

Take your time. Do not rush the grieving process.

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One month.

It took one month, no visits from his children, his wife and the judge continuously threatening him, several visits from Rhett's wife Jessie and the crushing reality that he had disappointed over twelve million fans world wide, to realize that Rhett wasn't coming home. One day, after a month of not hosting any of their seven channels, after fans world wide continuously sent mail, sending inspirational pictures, mail and condolences, it hit Link. So hard that he felt like he was going to pass out.

There he was, reading mail that he wouldn't respond to. Just reading all the nice things that people had to say about he and Rhett and like a slap to the face, like that truck hitting him all over again, he suddenly stood up. Panic was the first thing to fill him and it made him gasp like he was dropped in a tub of freezing ice water. He held his stomach like he was about to be sick and attempted to stumble his way toward the bathroom, only to collapse to his knees. Since upstairs, it more then likely made a loud thud noise and at the time, thankfully, Jessie was there with Rhett's children Locke and Shepard. Had she not been there and had she not came at the right moment like she had, Link and the knife that he and Rhett had used for a commercial a long time ago, would have been best friends until the end. The reality had hit him so hard and so sudden, that it wasn't just shock and grief that came, it was anger. Lots and lots of anger.