Masking Grief Novels & Stories

The people who were supposed to care for me-the ones I called my family, my pack-had stripped me of any belief in kindness. Each interaction at the dinner felt like sandpaper on my already raw emotions. My mask of composure grew heavier with every empty condolence, every insincere smile. I could feel their eyes on me when they thought I wasn't looking, the subtle glances of pity, the whispers that followed me like shadows. By the end of the night, I wasn't even sure if I was still standing or if I had turned into a ghost, floating aimlessly through a crowd that barely acknowledged me. Their words, their gestures-they were all hollow echoes, reminders that I was utterly alone in my grief.

Grief in The Mind Grief is a natural occurrence that everybody goes through in their life. It can cause depression to some, but to others it is a way of coping with the loss of something incredibly meaningful. Grief can also occur from the death of a loved one, a change in your career, or the ending of a long relationship or a friendship. Grief can be any type of feelings people go through such as, being angry, being upset, having constant worries, relief, possible fear, or any other possible type of numbness. It also can be thoughts of despair and discomfort. Increasing your social life is one of many ways to quickly help the person get over the grief that they are experiencing.

I cried out, my hand were shaking, my palms sweating heavily, and throat constricting painfully, an indication that I need my medicine. "--It said you can never get pregnant again due to complications." "Don't.... please don't." I covered my ears with both my hands, I could feel thousands of needles piercing my heart mercilessly. I closed my eyes, to let the grief take over me, this is the thing I have always tried to avoid. Like it has never happened, may be never talking about it will make it less real, like it is just in my head, something my damaged mind has conjured. Because I knew this is my breaking point.

Although, he felt guilty for granny’s death, he was also happy that he had taken away his only obstacle. On the day of her burial, Carla couldn’t attend as she wasn’t aware and she was still in the hospital, healing. On the day of the burial, Carla wore a simple black dress, a sign of mourning, which hung loosely on her frame. She was tired of crying. As she watched her granny being laid in her grave, her gaze was fixed on her coffin. Her face was a mask of sorrow, her eyes red and swollen from crying. Pain was etched on her face as she had just lost her granny. Her shoulders were slumped, weighed down by the heaviness of grief. She wore a simple black dress, a sign of mourning,

No one speaks for a long, long time. Slowly, Dad begins to gather their clothing. He folds it neatly, tucking it under his arm. Ella joins him, the siblings quiet and wearing identical expressions of grief and understanding. There will be no bodies to bury. No graves to mourn. Just… pieces to hold. A necklace. A watch. A pair of shoes… Grief is a strange thing. It can be angry, all consuming, and desperately sad. But I feel… hopeful as I turn to my mate and he wraps his arms around me, holding me, giving me a moment to just… feel.

Edward sighed as he accepted the fact that he had to explain his identity when Andrea burst out in tears. "My head hurts so much and I feel so cold. Everyone hates me…" Andrea cried as she held her head. Edward used this time to wear his masquerade mask before walking towards her. "Stay calm and go take your bath. I called a doctor to take care of you." He said as he sat beside her. *What's the use of wearing the mask when she already saw your face?* He asked himself, but disregarded it to focus on persuading her to take her bath.

I don’t hide it this time. “I need a minute,” I tell her when she shares the news. She nods. Gives me space without withdrawing affection. That night, alone on the balcony, I confront something uncomfortable. I’ve been so focused on being supportive that I haven’t allowed myself to mourn. Loss doesn’t mean failure. But avoiding grief doesn’t make you stronger it just delays the reckoning. The next day, I do something deliberate. I ask her to take a walk with me. No agenda. No processing.

“You’re allowed to breathe, even if everything else is on fire.” The simplicity of that comfort made Tessa laugh through her tears. It was a thin sound, but it was something. She let herself be steadied for a moment, then felt the old instincts, the ones brought on by years of not asking for help rise like a tide. She would not let the world see her broken. She would learn to mask grief in a new way, as her mother had, as Lady Bianca had with a polished face and a menace that promised ruin to anyone who underestimated her. ***

I'm sure it's because they don't know I am the deceased granddaughter who will take over as of today. No biggy, they'll soon know as I must show myself during the burial. “Ma'am, Mr. Raymond wants you to have this." A guard handed me a small package. Are gifts exchanged at funerals, too? I opened the package, wondering what it was. A note fell out as soon as I opened it, followed by a nose mask. 'Put that on, there are cameras everywhere. This funeral will be aired on Television.’ Like seriously? Just because he doesn't want Grandpa George and the rest of his family to see me, he wants me to hide my face?

A lump forms in your throat, your vision blurs as the tears spring forth and the next thing you know, you're crying because of how much their presence meant to you, because you see that look on the faces of the people around you, and you can see how lifeless their eyes look, how much pain they are in by the monotony of their features, and it hurts, knowing that neither you, nor ones you love, will ever recover from a loss as big as this one. That. That is what grief is. And Nicole couldn't bring herself to cope with it. She couldn't manage to pull herself together, and in hopes to reduce the pain, she slept. Sometimes she slept through entire days, sometimes she slept a few hours before waki