Death is an unavoidable, depressing fact of life. You can't run from it or pretend it doesn't exist because it dies. People die and life goes on but it changes you. The void that's left when you lose someone you love never really gets filled back up again and you're always left with this sense of loneliness following you around. It's sad to know you'll never hear someone's laugh again or make a new memory with them. Death changes you and you learn things.

Life is too short.

There are so many things that teach you that life is too short but death is probably one of the main ones. No amount of time with someone you love is ever going to be enough time and you realize that when you no longer have that person around.

Memories are your best friend.

Nobody can take memories away from you and you'll always have memories that only you and that person know about. Maybe there was a place you two would frequent or a show you'd watch together. Regardless, it's your memory and you can pull it up and put it on replay any time you want.

It never gets easier.

Everyone will lie and tell you that losing someone gets easier but it never really does. Whenever something exciting happens, the thought will cross your mind. "Oh, this person would love this" or "I would have loved for this person to be here" and you'll smile and think about what that person might have said but then you'll cry, because a huge part of you is still gone.

It's okay to cry.

Crying is a totally normal human process and it's not something to be ashamed of. If you're sad, cry. Let it out. There's no right way to grieve and there is no amount of time passed that warrants you to grieve less. You're strength is in allowing yourself to feel, not shutting off all your emotions.

There are signs.

Whether you believe in a God or life after death or not, there are little signs that this person is still with you. Maybe you'll find a note they wrote to you one time or a picture you forgot you had. These are signs, gifts, if you will. And initially, it'll hurt. But then you remember, this person was real and meant something to me. And then you'll feel relief.

You're strong.

Watching someone you love pass away is difficult. And in case nobody has told you, you're strong. You were that person's support system through some difficult times and you deserve recognition too. So in case nobody tells you, you are strong. Much stronger than you even know.

I won't lie and tell you that it gets easier or one day you'll feel better but you'll grow. From loss comes a gain, even if it doesn't really seem like it on the surface. Stay strong and keep your head up.