My family has always been tight-knit. As an only child, I was very close to my parents, who supported me throughout my childhood and college years. However, when my father passed away, everything changed. My mother, once a lively “hippie” with a zest for life, became a shadow of her former self.

Now, my mother spends a lot of time with my daughter, Cindy. But recently, Cindy started crying whenever Grandma was around. When I asked Cindy why, she said, “It’s because of Grandma’s friend. He’s always around.” She mentioned a friend named William, who Grandma always asked her to greet before eating.

I was stunned. William was my father’s name. When I confronted my mom, she tearfully admitted, “I still feel your father… sometimes I still talk to him.” She had mentioned him to Cindy as a way to keep his memory alive.

I explained that Cindy didn’t understand and was frightened. My mom agreed to see a psychologist. After a few months of therapy, her mood improved, and she began painting again. Now, she and Cindy paint together, and Mom avoids mentioning William. We are all on a path to healing.