We were supposed to grow old together 💔RIP Babe 🪽

Lately, I've seen that 'we were supposed to grow old together' TikTok trend everywhere, and honestly, it hits different when it's your own reality. Every single video is a stark reminder of the future I pictured, the one that slipped away far too soon. It’s a bittersweet trend that captures the profound longing for a life that was planned, a journey meant to be shared until the very end. I often find myself scrolling through old photos, like this one from April 16, 2022. It was just a normal day, us being silly – me making a *kissing face*, him with his familiar *beard*, both of us smiling and so full of life. He used to call me 'Stinker,' and I remember that day, I probably texted him 'I missing you Stinker' shortly after, just because I missed him even when he was right there. It was pure *togetherness*, a moment I now hold onto with all my heart. We had so many plans, so many 'someday' conversations about rocking chairs on a porch, grandkids, silly arguments over trivial things, just growing gray and wrinkly together. We built a life around that future. It wasn't just a fantasy; it was our blueprint. We talked about everything, from silly retirement plans to what kind of garden we’d have. I remember laughing about who would be the grumpiest old person. It wasn't just idle chatter; these were the foundations of our future, woven into the fabric of our daily lives. Every anniversary, every birthday, every small milestone felt like another step on that path we imagined, hand in hand, slowly but surely growing into our older selves. To have that tapestry unravel so unexpectedly, to have the future you’ve meticulously planned suddenly vanish, leaves a void that words can barely describe. Now, those dreams feel like ghosts. The silence where his laughter used to be is deafening. Watching others live out that 'grow old together' dream on social media can be incredibly painful, yet sometimes, it’s a strange form of comfort, a shared understanding of what could have been. This TikTok trend, while heartbreaking, also feels like a way to acknowledge the love that was, and the profound sadness of its absence. It’s a space where people understand that intense longing for a future that will never come to pass. It’s not just about missing someone; it's about missing a whole life you envisioned with them. Grief is a strange beast. One moment you’re cherishing a memory, like how he'd always make me laugh with a silly impression, or how thoughtful he was even on random Tuesdays. The next, you’re hit with the crushing reality that there won't be new memories with him. The 'missing you Stinker' from that old text feels like a constant echo now. The TikTok trend, in its own bittersweet way, offers a platform for this collective ache. It’s a reminder that beneath the surface of everyday life, so many hearts are walking around with a future unfulfilled, a 'we were supposed to grow old together' dream that didn't come true. I’m learning to hold onto those beautiful memories, like that photo from April 16, 2022, where we were just us, happy and oblivious to the heartbreak ahead. He was my 'Stinker,' and every memory is a testament to the love we shared. It's a journey, and some days are harder than others, but remembering our shared joy helps, even if it's painful. If you're reading this and feeling the weight of a similar loss, please know you're not alone. This trend, these stories, they remind us that love leaves an indelible mark, and grief is simply love with nowhere to go. We carry them with us, always.