DOLOR, AMOR, Y VIDA

DOLOR, AMOR, Y VIDA

By Sarah Rios

The grief I experienced is unforgettable, but it transformed into something far more beautiful and profound that infused my heart and soul with an abundance of warmth and strength that will last my entire life. That warmth that encompassed me remains monumental as a demonstration of unconditional love that few ever sincerely experience. It is a love and support so pure and genuine that it transformed darkness into light and the heavy weight of grief into a breath of hope. Those who love me showed up both physically and emotionally, as they bound together by my side as the grace that caught my fall. That will forever be an engraved reminder in my heart of how much love surrounded me during such an excruciating experience. 

Grief shattered me into pieces, but it was my family and close friends who painstakingly pieced me back together. Grief left me bereft of my inner luz, and friendships reignited the light inside me through the platicas inolvidables of shared pain and how friends made it to the other side. My family’s prayers up and down California and across the Southwest and even extending into the East Coast acted as a shield of unforgettable protection and armor that grounded me and helped me get my bearings straight as I walked a new camino. Visits, calls, texts, and outings with amigas, tias, primas, y primos, acted as the glue to restore and repair my shattered self. Their love and encouragement lifted the broken parts of my soul from the ashes, helping me rediscover myself. 

“Those who love me showed up both physically and emotionally, as they bound together by my side as the grace that caught my fall.”

— Quote Source

The demonstrations and outpours of support sutured every piece of me that had been ripped open, bearing every raw piece of my heart. My parents drove to bring me home, reminding me that I would always have a home and that I would always be loved regardless of the circumstances. My mother, an angel in human form, nursed me back to health and life with her powerful words and comforting embrace. It was her sweet notes she left me to brighten my day. It was watching her do anything and everything through my tears and cries to make sure I was okay. My mother’s love is unforgettable. I hope to know her and experience her love in every lifetime because it healed the parts of me I thought would be broken forever. 

Grief can feel overwhelming and impossible, but love is an enduring force that persists. It manifests in various forms and triumphs at different stages of our lives. Love is an unforgettable gift that transcends pain, spans lifetimes, and endures heartbreak, always leaving its mark. El amor es inolvidable y poderoso. Y amare una y otra vez.

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