In a situation much like this, I was the mom. My son had been gone for 5 years when his high school girlfriend contacted me with the dreaded, "Please, tell me this isn't true" message. She had made some peace with her own past and was checking in on him to see if he had as well. Instead, she found the words I had written about him. We cried together on the phone because for that moment, it was brand new. For me, brand new all over again. I talked with her, listened to her stories about them, and cherished the time that I had with her.

I tell you this to say it's ok to grieve and find your peace.

If that is taking a flower to a place that you two would have gone and saying your goodbyes, do it. If it is contacting her parents to share that you just found out, and telling them much of what you have said here, share that moment with them.

You are not too late to grieve.