The spiritual guide wrote, “We
sometimes have to live at least
a whole year before our hearts

have fully said good-bye and
the pain of our grief recedes.”
A whole year? What about

twenty-five years and his heart
has not yet fully said, “Good-
bye,” And he doesn’t think he

will ever say good-bye with
finality. The intensity of
grief’s pain has receded for

him but, every now and then,
an intense, acute, stabbing pain
to his heart reminds him of

love’s labors lost. His grief
has lasted as long as the word
honorificabilitudinitatibus,

the longest word in the English
language and, as such, perhaps
he is due some type of dubious

distinction. And then he turns
to his love and gives thanks
for love’s labors found.