Zoe Oliveira

This Side of Forever

"I make my way downstairs, past my life, and try not to mourn that it’s going on without me. I make my way outside and lay back on the grass in the front yard to watch the stars. I admire those that dare to shine so brightly in a sea of black. It feels like I am the only man in the world who will forever get his tomorrow. I’m most definitely the only one in the world who isn’t sure if that’s a blessing, or a curse."

“In this piece, I wanted to utilize an often untold perspective when viewing characters enduring grief. The ghost of Evan Wright walks readers through his life, and the many ways it continues on without him. We meet his wife, son, best friend, and parents, each representative of a different stage of the "Five Stages of Grief". ”