It was around this time last year when I lost a close friend. The pain of that loss is still pretty fresh, a wound that hasn't fully healed. But it's not just this loss that weighs heavily on my heart. Over the past several years, I've experienced a series of losses, including the sudden death of my father 13 years ago, the passing of several friends and most recently, my canine companion. Each loss has left its mark, creating a tapestry of grief that's complex and sometimes