Reaching out for a partner who is no longer there
Posted on 17th September 2020 at 14:06
“If only I could tell them I love them one more time.”
“If only I could touch them again.”
“If only we could have one more day together.”
Wishes like these are incredibly common for grievers and are not only heard after a death, but also after a breakup, divorce, or a loved one moving far away. They may seem like factual statements, but they’re actually emotional statements that reflect the pain of longing. Two partners in a long-distance relationship, for example, may experience longing even though they can routinely talk on the phone. A mother may yearn for her child after she leaves for university. We may even have dreams where we reach out for our loved one and are never quite able to grasp them.
