After my daughter's passing, spending time with her friends has helped bring me comfort.

I spent a lovely time over the weekend with a dear friend of my daughter Isobel.

Since losing her in November 2024, it's brought me comfort to sit over coffee, lunches and dinners and even walks with her inner circle, in a way that wouldn't have been possible when she was alive.

We're all gatekeepers to our friends. Especially when we're young. But we - or maybe its just me - rarely get to know our children's friends well.

Her friends and I share our collective loss through memories and even a few tears from time to time. It's been therapeutic.

Going through her personal belongings - another thing that never would have been done before November and has proven to be extremely emotionally difficult - I've given some of her books, sketches, posters and jewellery, just so her friends can have a special piece of her close by.

​This has all been a part of me moving forward from the tragic loss of my beautiful daughter. It's not healing because I don't believe that I'll ever be healed but having us now more closely connected helps.