It just never occurred to me that she might die this way. She was healthy and active, and I thought we’d be friends forever.

I have a lot of questions about how they died. I don’t feel comfortable asking their family at this time, but all of this wondering feels awful. I just wish I could have been there.

The way that your friend died can affect your grief. Whether or not you had time to prepare for their death, you will still grieve this loss. If you’ve experienced other deaths or losses, your friend’s death may stir up old memories and feelings. 

Your grief is likely to have been impacted in unusual ways if your friend died as a result of COVID-19 or if they died of other causes during the pandemic. You may not have been able to say goodbye or provide comfort to them; and you may feel very alone in your grief if you’ve been unable to be with others at this time.