Some people come into your life for a brief time only. The length of a relationship does not necessarily reflect its intensity or importance.

How does this relationship affect my grief?

It is difficult when things do not continue as expected. When a death occurs shortly after a relationship starts, it can cause deep uncertainty. You might ask: "How can life be so cruel? Should I ever love again knowing what I know now about how fragile life can be?"

You might find that knowing someone even for a very short time was worth the pain of losing them. It is common to worry about choices you made before their death, the choice, for example, to stay or leave when you learned they were going to die.

If you feel shame or guilt over your decision to leave a new relationship, be gentle with yourself. It is normal to protect yourself. This is important to remember when you think about past decisions, especially those made under pressure.