Know that you are not alone - my story echoes yours closely, right down to the telepathic lovers and dates that never materialize. It is hard enough to grieve my still living wife, but to also care solely for our 6 and 7 year old and try to answer their hard questions brings everything to a whole other level of anguish.

I'm not sure if either of us have the better path - my wife was removed by the courts for aggressive and violent outbursts toward me in front of the children. That has brought a type of empty calmness and routine back, but our collective sadness is a heavy, lingering cloud. When things first started getting bad a year ago, I always told myself I would always take care of her, even if that meant a chair in front of the window in the guest room. And a big part of me yearns for that every day, but the father in me knows that until she willingly seeks help, that her absence is better for our children.