Let's first ask a question: Why are we so afraid to talk about death?

While many shows and books revolve around death, we never really delve deep into what loss and death is. Especially in children's shows.

But no matter how we try to avoid it, death is still there. It'll always be there, there's no getting around it. However, I think we shouldn't undermine death and what it means to truly grieve. One of ny favorite illustrations of the grieving process is in the show My Little Pony, believe it or not.

It the episode "Tanks for the Memories," Rainbow Dash is excited about spending winter with her pet tortise Tank. However, Tank is a reptile, meaning he hibernates in the winter. The writers of the show admit to this being a way of talking about grief without killing a charecter. It did a good job of it and made up for a good episode. (brony confirmed.)

While loss is hard, we each have to deal with it in our own ways. Some people resort to a cigarette or two, some people drink, and other people tried to focus on other things entirely. Yes, we'll go through the grieving process of Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. We always do. But the important thing is that we deal with it and don't push it away. In the Marvel Comics when Captain America dies, Wolverine gives the best description of grief I know.

"It's like a cannon ball that someone shot right through your stomach, leaving a great big hole. Eventually it starts to close up from the outside in. Then one day, it'll be different. The load won't feel as heavy. Then you'll hear a song or somebody will laugh or the wind will blow the wrong way and the hole will split open again. Believe it or not, it'll heal back faster after each time. You know why it's called depression? Because it's depressing. Death isn't like losing a job or getting divorced. You don't 'get over it'. You have to Integrate it into your life and learn to live with it...but life does get better."

So if you are dealing with loss, you need to know that while it hurts then, I want you to know that it does get better. I promise. As depressing and devastating as it is, I would like you to know that you're never truly alone.

I'm Catie8913. Thank you for reading.

Dedicated to Daniel Kyre of Cyndigo.

Citatations- Marvel©, and MLP-Silver Quill on Youtube.