Echoes of Absence (Special Edition)

This edition of my debut poetry book contains both the poems and the story; I share what really happened in the poems in narrative form.

Echoes of Absence was written after six years of silence, following the death of my dad. He died suddenly, although not quite unexpectedly, when I was sixteen, and two years later, my only sister died in a tragically similar way. 

Although we lose people in all sorts of ways, both of my family members lived with mental illness and substance abuse, which ultimately led to two of the biggest losses of my life. I went to counseling following both of their deaths, but I kept encountering the same types of thoughts -- and words from other people. 

It'll be okay. They're in a better place now. They would want you to be happy. At least you still have your mom. You're all we have left now. 

Echoes of Absence is a collection of all the thoughts and feelings I couldn't say out loud, or even let myself process too soon after losing them.

Now, it's time to give them to you. I want you to know that you are not alone, you are not your thoughts, and it's not only possible to have all sorts of conflicting feelings after losing someone you love, but it's natural. It's part of being human. And you have every right to share your story.