My Dying Wife Asked Me to Find My First Love as Her Final Wish—When Claire Told Me Why, My Knees Nearly Gave Out

Before deciding whether Margaret’s diaries should survive.

Grief creates urgency.

Everything feels as though it must be resolved immediately.

It doesn’t.

Some truths need to sit beside you until they stop shouting.

Months after finding Claire’s letter, I could hold it without shaking.

A year later, I could read Margaret’s diary without feeling physically sick.

Two years later, I could tell a funny story about Margaret at dinner and not feel disloyal to myself.