An Unwelcome Visitor

I’m glad I made it almost to the age of 40 before I caught a glimpse of Grief. I spied Grief looking in through our front room window. An unwelcome intrusion into our home, I stared coldly back until It casually turned away and wandered off down the street. But Grief knew me from that moment on. It would wait around a bend in the road to ambush my drive to work. Morphing through the windscreen and sliding into the passenger seat beside me. A frigid, silent, bothering of my thoughts. After our initial acquaintance, it could sometimes be weeks between “botherings”, but as time passed the frequency increased. I’d fear those bends in the road, the kinks and corners in the path. It was inevitable that I would rush headlong into Griefs smothering embrace, gasping and struggling to get away, uncertain how to find my balance as It kicked my legs from beneath me. Now, many years on, I have partially healed from the beating Grief gave me. The scars are there and the threat remains. I know Grief will kick seven shades out of me again before the other stalker, Death, pays me attention but it makes me grateful for the 39.6 years of innocence. I can’t control Grief, It will take what It wants from me time and time again, but in between I will feel the warmth of the sun on my face and smile. In this way I will not be controlled by Grief, It will try and bully me but I will turn away and look for Joy and Fun with the help of Love’s companionship.

-Daniel O’Grady

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-Daniel O’Grady

is a Plant Manager at a Chemical Manufacturing site who enjoys writing about whatever comes to mind each day, capturing his thoughts for future reference.
He draws his inspiration from the semi rural environment he lives and works in, the woodland he wanders through and the lanes where he enjoys running and cycling.
He also enjoys photography where he tries to share the beauty of the world as he sees it. His ambition is to write a fictional story based on his path through grief, maybe retirement will allow more time, maybe it won’t.