When the last set of tail lights leave, when the silence of reality starts to drift through the room. These are the moments that are the hardest.

With Max I’ve been a part of several of these. Anyone that has experienced the life changing events that shake a person to the core. The loss of a loved one, the diagnosis of a life threatening medical condition these are the moments that seem to rally the troops. The inner circle huddles up, people rush to the aid physical, spiritual and emotional. Tin foil Casserole dishes come in by the truckload. Heartfelt statements like “whatever I can do you let me know” are made over and over and over. It’s slightly therapeutic seeing your pain being shared by those closest to you.

Then it slowly comes to a crashing halt. You don’t really notice the cars leaving. Sometimes the process only takes a day or two, sometimes its weeks. The eyes no longer connect because life has moved forward. The huddle is splintered and the pile of casserole dishes that need returned sits on the kitchen counter. The calls stop, and the texts slow.

You seem to accept the first wave of tail lights, you have more then enough people around. You never actually have to think about anything, the conversation finds little dead ends to camp out at the weather the latest sporting event, or the things at work. Slowly more tail lights leave, but the hallow conversation has your attention locked in. Then as your counterpart excuses them self to leave you look up and search for someone to fill the void. Only you realize the set of tail lights leaving is the last set. The moment crashes against your senses.

Nothing can prepare you for this moment, at the same time painfully raw and beautiful. Shifting from deep hope to racing pain from feeling internal peace to a chaotic chaotic fear.
It’s a ball of critical mass reshaping your core.

Yea that last set of tail lights will change a person forever.