My son died in an accident at 16

1. Different Ways of Grieving

After losing their sixteen-year-old son, the narrator grieved openly, while her husband, Sam, withdrew into silence and work. His lack of visible emotion created distance and resentment between them.

2. A Marriage Breaks

Their inability to understand each other’s grief slowly destroyed their relationship. The unspoken pain led to divorce, and Sam eventually remarried, leaving their shared loss unresolved.

3. A Hidden Truth

Twelve years later, Sam died suddenly. His wife revealed that he had grieved privately for years, visiting a lake nightly and writing letters to their son, believing he needed to stay strong.

4. Understanding and Forgiveness

At the lake, the narrator discovered the letters and finally understood that grief can be silent or visible. In that realization, she found peace and forgiveness.