Without You Here

I have been working overtime at my job. My days usually consist of waking up, working, going to school and working. It's been a loop like this ever since mom passed away. I don't have time to do after-school activities; I have a family to feed.

This piece explores the complex feelings and emotions that arise after the loss of a loved one, particularly a mother, in a tragic plane crash. The narrator struggles with guilt and self-blame for encouraging their mother to board the plane, and reflects on the lasting impact that the loss has had on their family and their own life. Through the lens of the narrator's experience, the piece challenges the public perception of such tragedies as mere statistics, while offering a raw and heartfelt account of the enduring grief of the families left behind.