But Not for Me:

Simone’s Notes:

Grief is a multifaceted response to loss, particularly to the loss of someone or something to which a bond was formed. Although conventionally focused on the emotional response to loss, it also has physical, cognitive, behavioral, social, spiritual, and philosophical dimensions. While the terms are often used interchangeably, bereavement refers to the state of loss, and grief is the reaction to loss. Grief is a natural response to loss. It is the emotional suffering one feels when something or someone the individual loves is taken away. Grief is also a reaction to any loss. The grief associated with death is familiar to most people, but individuals grieve in connection with a variety of losses throughout their lives, such as unemployment, ill health or the end of a relationship. Loss can be categorized as either physical or abstract, the physical loss being related to something that the individual can touch or measure, such as losing a spouse through death, while other types of loss are abstract, and relate to aspects of a person’s social interactions.

Tina pressed her forehead against the glass of her window. Tonight felt like a down night. It still hurt without William around. It wasn’t easy, that was for sure. She looked at her wine glass. Drinking wasn’t so much fun alone anymore. Tina had long stopped crying.

His wife still didn’t know how much Tina meant to him. It was probably for the best. That woman had suffered enough. She didn’t need another scandal to follow her around. Tina placed her hand to the glass. They all needed something to happen. Something, anything, really. The lt. sergeant dropped her shoulders. Yeah, like that’s going to happen. She looked up when her cell phone rang. Tina reached over and put it to her ear.

“Hello?” she asked.

“Tina?” a woman’s voice asked. The lt. sergeant’s eyes widened in shock.

“Paula?” she asked. “Is that you?”

“How have you been?”

Tina lied back with a little smile on her face. “Tired.”

“You’re still not over him?”

The lt. sergeant shook her head. “I don’t think I can.”

“Oh,” Paula murmured. “So it is true.”

Her old friend made an odd face. “What?”

“The first cut is the deepest.”

“Yeah.”

Tina rolled over on her stomach on the couch. “Let me guess, you couldn’t sleep either?”

“How did you know?” Paula asked in fake shock.

Tina gave herself a little smile. “That’s what you do.”

“Guilty,” her friend said.

“You on a date tonight?”

“Guilty again.”

“Mmm, is he hot?”

“Hell yes, girl!”

Tina smirked to herself. “How is he in bed?”

Paula giggled on the other line. “I am still worn out.”

“Good for you.”

“We need to get you laid again.”

Tina pressed her lips together, nodding. “Pretty much. Got any suggestions?”

“Hm, I may have a couple. How does your weekend look?”

The friend got up and walked over to her calendar in the kitchen. She narrowed her eyes as she looked at the dates before her. “I have absolutely nothing to do. What about you?”

“Perfect!” Paula said in a chipper voice. “I am coming up to see you!” Tina made a puzzled yet excited face.

“For real?” she asked.

“Of course,” her friend said. “I have to do something since my friend is feeling down.” Tina felt tears welling up in her eyes.

“I-I-I don’t know what to say,” she said.

“Shhh,” Paula whispered. “Just smile for me when I get there.” Tina nodded as she wiped away her tears.

“Okay,” she said.

“I’ve got to go; my date just woke up and I think he wants more,” her friend said. The lt. sergeant smiled to herself.

“I’ll leave you to it then,” she said. “Have a good night.”

“You too,” Paula said before hanging up. Tina held the phone to her chest. This wasn’t much, but it would have to do for now.