The Golden Era

There was a period in life I called “The Golden Era.” Not in hindsight but at the actual time. I named it such because I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Everyone I loved was alive and well. I had a good job, a home, and a loving companion. All the things everyone longs for. Little did I know, this “Golden Era” would end too soon. One day, my mom has a stroke and that instantly spelled the end of the golden era and the beginning of a rather painful period. Watching someone who was strong become weak and bedridden, suffer to walk, and eventually drift away eats away at you. It’s difficult to describe the tumultuous wave of feelings that come and overwhelm you. There’s the fear of coping with loss and feeling powerless because you can’t cure the illness and avoid the inevitable. Losing a parent can feel like losing part of yourself. If they’ve always been there, helping and supporting you, it’s hard to imagine coping without them.