Before Belinda’s husband died, he left her a hidden note. It set her free to find love again

When a person loses their partner, the love and connection for them often continues long after their death. Even as the surviving partner builds a new life, “joy and grief will often exist at the same time”, says Rebecca Adams, co-founder and CEO of First Light Widowed Support. Grieving partners can face many obstacles once they decide to begin dating or enter into a new relationship, such as uncertainty from a new partner about where they fit, as well as judgment from others.

“[But] a new partner is not a replacement, and doesn’t erase the grief for the person lost,” explains Adams. “The challenge is often not about ‘moving on’, but about finding a way for new love to exist alongside enduring love and grief.