Fortunately, I was not alone and had a strong support network.

Despite this, I felt lonely all the time. I also felt like a stranger to myself. I didn’t recognize myself in the mirror anymore. When had I last done so?

I once heard or read a story that has stuck with me. In one town, when someone was mourning the loss of a loved one, the townsfolk would all tweak normal every day things, such as set furniture upside down. This was done so that when the grieving individual went about daily life, they saw this topsy turvy world, and knew that their community saw that their world was turned upside down. They were seen.

Though I was seen I also wasn’t. This was one of the hardest parts of going through a separation for me. Because I too was grieving and my world was not right side up.