Grief isn’t always about death. Sometimes, it’s about someone still alive who can’t give you what you need.

Estranged parents. Siblings who cut contact. Friends who ghost. It hurts, and it’s often invisible.

What to know:

• You can love someone and still need distance
• Grieving what never was is valid
• You don’t have to “make peace” to move forward

What helps:

• Naming the loss clearly
• Writing the letter you won’t send
• Creating new rituals to mourn what was never given
• Finding chosen family and community

Estrangement grief is real. You’re not cold. You’re healing.