b'Evennow,aftersheisgone,Imustsustainthecomplicityofmysilentdenialwithouther. 145Wonderingaboutwhattheninourwalkshadalreadybeentold.Notwantingtobeheard.Orspokenoutloud.So,wecouldreachtogetherforsomeprofoundblindhopeWiththesamesteadyendurance,weconfronttheprecipicebeneathus.Butnottheunspokenoneamongus,Instead,IwatchhersmallframeendurethisunbearableweightAtoofamiliarmapbetweenus,walkedthismanyyears.Iwalkthisdaytoherhouse,just36hoursafterherdeath,evenknowingsheisnotthere.AsIcontemplatetheironyoftoomuchofanythinginDiannessystem.Andgrieveformyfriendnevertoomuchofanything.Thiswarmwelcomingpersonintotalabidingacceptanceofwhatshewasgiven.Incalmingcompatibilitytomyfeelingtoomuchofeverything.MyfriendandIliveashorterdistancethanourwalks.Andwhenshecouldwalknomore,Strengthdrainedbyherfirstweekofchemo.Wewalkedthedistanceonthephone.Inowwalkfrommyhousetohers.Becausewealwayswalkedeachotherbackhome.Andletmyselfintowaterherwaitingplants.Andhopingfornewsofherlastdays.Butfindnothingofher.AllherbelongingsandthethingsshetouchedNowstrewnaboutorgonecompletely.Madebeyondsightorreachbyherdisbelievinghusbandwhogrievesthisalltoosoonloss.Thiswalkintheblocksbetweenusisthewalkthatstillholdsher.AsIwalkmyselfnowbackhomeagainAlone.DianneParker'