When you lose a son, a letter to René
When you lose a son, you lose your life. Lupita and me lost our lives. With René’s departure there is no relief, nothing you are told helps you, good faith phrases intended to comfort you, but nothing alleviates the pain of the departure of a being that God sent us to fulfill our marriage. The pain is so deep that we do not know any word to describe this irreparable loss, anyone losing his parents is an orphan, anyone losing his or her spouse is a widow or widower, but there is no term to describe one who loses a son.