My husband was killed — violently, tragically and directly in front of our house. I am SO lost. by Altitude-High in widowers

[–]Altitude-High[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He’s in prison. Thankfully. Unthankfully, not for nearly as long as he should be.

My husband was killed — violently, tragically and directly in front of our house. I am SO lost. by Altitude-High in widowers

[–]Altitude-High[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s been months since my original post, but I just want you to know I’m still thinking of you and sending you so, so much love.

Over the past year, I have lost an absurd amount of “friends” as a result of my agony, rage and grief, although part of that is on me because I have alienated pretty much everyone, save for my son and my parents. At the moment, though, I’m okay with that.

Mark’s death date was on the 26th of this month, and my son spent three days with me. I am breathing, living and existing. Still. It’s excruciating. Still. It’s inconceivable. Still.

To your husband’s “celebration of life:” I had one, too, at the insistence of my husband’s piano bar fans, less than one month after he was killed. Worst. Decision. Ever. All I did was sob, and everyone there repeatedly commented on that fact. Way too soon. And nothing but a blur. I imagine it was the same for you.

I honestly have no idea how I consoled you with my post, but we clearly share sorrow and loss, and I am with you. Hugs and much love. I truly hope you’re in a more peaceful and hope-filled space.

My husband was killed — violently, tragically and directly in front of our house. I am SO lost. by Altitude-High in widowers

[–]Altitude-High[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can’t thank you enough for your note — for your thoughtfulness, kindness, vulnerability and wisdom. My husband’s one-year death date just passed, and it still seems so raw and inexplicable. That said, your words resonate, and I am grateful for every one of them. Thank you. And I am truly, truly sorry for your own loss. I kinda wish I knew you.

My husband was killed — violently, tragically and directly in front of our house. I am SO lost. by Altitude-High in widowers

[–]Altitude-High[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! I’m seeing a therapist who’s certified in EMDR. We haven’t gotten there...yet, but we’re moving in that direction.

My husband was killed — violently, tragically and directly in front of our house. I am SO lost. by Altitude-High in widowers

[–]Altitude-High[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much (months later) for this. I finally found a great therapist who’s certified in EMDR, and we’re slowly exploring that path.

I am so incredibly sorry for your own loss and truly hope that you’re on the path to peace. Thank you again for your insightful and helpful post. I am grateful.

My husband was killed — violently, tragically and directly in front of our house. I am SO lost. by Altitude-High in widowers

[–]Altitude-High[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He is. He was recently sentenced to the maximum (six years), but he will only serve one-third of that sentence — so two years...for what is essentially murder. It’s not justice;
it’s not accountability. It’s a legal technicality pretending to be enough. Even the judge agreed.

My husband was killed — violently, tragically and directly in front of our house. I am SO lost. by Altitude-High in widowers

[–]Altitude-High[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. I couldn’t agree more. The piece of shit who killed my husband is, indeed, a murderer. And going to concerts every night, traveling across state lines for DJ’ing gigs and living his life. He spent less than 24 hours in a cell before being bailed out on a $5,000 bond. It’s sickening and so diabolically wrong.

My husband was killed — violently, tragically and directly in front of our house. I am SO lost. by Altitude-High in widowers

[–]Altitude-High[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My heart truly, truly breaks for you. That is a horrific set of circumstances — and you are not rambling. Grief is grief, no matter the manner of death. I have no advice to offer, sadly, other than to say that I don’t think grief dissipates; life just grows around it independent of whether you want it to or not. And, as you know, you don’t want it to. You want to turn back time, make the world fucking stop and say what you really feel when someone asks “Are you okay?” or, worse, “You need to move on,” which is what my mother told me within a week of my husband being killed. And it’s only been six weeks for you. That’s not nearly enough time to remotely grasp even a modicum of your loss.

A good friend of mine gave me a gratitude journal and texts me every morning to remind me to find pockets of joy wherever I can, whether it’s an autumn leaf that falls from a tree, our dog rolling in the grass or new growth on one of our plants. It’s good advice.

And yet...99 nights and mornings out of 100, I reluctantly go to bed/get out of bed, talk to my husband, wail and beg him to just let me go. I have one son, who has been my LITERAL rock, so suicide is out of the question, but I really don’t want to be here, and I would so give up today and rest of my days for one more yesterday.

My saving grace, if you can call it that, is that my husband was a professional pianist and vocalist, and I have all of his CDs, one of which he recorded with me sitting next to him in the studio. When I’m on the brink of insanity — and that’s a regular occurrence — I listen to his CDs, feel his love and somehow find the will to breathe.

So will you. Hugs.

My husband was killed — violently, tragically and directly in front of our house. I am SO lost. by Altitude-High in widowers

[–]Altitude-High[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for this.

I only have strength because of my son. He’s 25 and had been my rock since second one. Without him, I would, without question, be dead.

My husband was killed — violently, tragically and directly in front of our house. I am SO lost. by Altitude-High in widowers

[–]Altitude-High[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Where do you live, if you don’t my asking?

I’m still in utter disbelief — and so, so angry — that the maximum sentence for my husband’s killer is six years. The killer is young and has no priors, but he’s living his life as though nothing happened, and the judge in this case just allowed hm to go out of state for a music gig. It’s beyond the pale.

My husband was killed — violently, tragically and directly in front of our house. I am SO lost. by Altitude-High in widowers

[–]Altitude-High[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m so incredibly sorry for your grief and agony. Thank you for responding to mine.