64 Six Word Stories About Grief

Coping with Grief / Coping with Grief : Litsa Williams


A while back, we wrote a post about the six-word story: the well-known writing exercise made famous through the legend that Ernest Hemingway was once bet that he couldn't write a short story in six words. As the story goes he wrote the following story:

"For sale: baby shoes, never worn."

The validity of the legend may be unknown, but the power of six-word stories is unequivocal.

This week, we asked our readers to share their own six-word stories. These could be about a loved one, about a grief, or whatever really. You know us, we like to keep the rules pretty loose. As usual, we were amazed by the comments that poured in and we were sad to think they may be soon buried in an endless black hole of old Facebook posts, never to be seen or heard from again. Trying to delay the inevitable reality that many beautiful things are lost and forgotten, we have captured here just a handful of the hundreds of six-word grief stories shared on our Facebook. So without further ado...

A week in my arms, forever in my heart.
A week in my arms, forever in my heart.
Ordinary day, two breaths, Heaven bound...
Ordinary day, two breaths, Heaven bound...
Sacrificed his life protected others LODD
Sacrificed his life protected others LODD
His weight killed him and me...
His weight killed him and me...
Waiting for the shoe to drop.
Waiting for the shoe to drop.
Mommy of three, until that day...
Mommy of three, until that day...
He runs with the deer now.
He runs with the deer now.
Wild heart with a gypsy soul...
Wild heart with a gypsy soul...
Tousled, funny, loved life... Smash, dead.
Tousled, funny, loved life... Smash, dead.
Stepping towards the train gone forever.
Stepping towards the train gone forever.
The silent delivery room, broke me...
The silent delivery room, broke me...
I am my mother's daughter, eternally.
I am my mother's daughter, eternally.
Happily ever after ended rather prematurely.
Happily ever after ended rather prematurely.
This year, I will outlive you.
This year, I will outlive you.
Amazing boy, beautiful smile, organ donor.
Amazing boy, beautiful smile, organ donor.
Painkillers kill, destroy lives and family.
Painkillers kill, destroy lives and family.
I am complete having loved you.
I am complete having loved you.
Didn't understand all that she sacrificed...
Didn't understand all that she sacrificed...
Suffered too long... Finally free.
Suffered too long... Finally free.
A beautiful, valiant soldier and father.
A beautiful, valiant soldier and father.
Your death profoundly changed us all.
Your death profoundly changed us all.
Life will never be the same.
Life will never be the same.
I thought she would get old.
I thought she would get old.
Breast cancer stole her, my mom.
Breast cancer stole her, my mom.
Loved beyond measure; gone too soon.
Loved beyond measure; gone too soon.
Joy, unknown, fighting, relapse, forever 7.
Joy, unknown, fighting, relapse, forever 7.
Trade your halo for my life.
Trade your halo for my life.
My closest Friend... died, and then...
My closest Friend... died, and then...
Nine months along, both are gone.
Nine months along, both are gone.
The better half of our one.
The better half of our one.
Thought we would get old together...
Thought we would get old together...
We didn't live happily ever after.
We didn't live happily ever after.
This life doesn't work without him.
This life doesn't work without him.
His generous heart just couldn't last.
His generous heart just couldn't last.
Everyone changed after he went away.
Everyone changed after he went away.
My Dad, this girl's first love.
My Dad, this girl's first love.
Six words simply are not enough...
Six words simply are not enough...
Man of my dreams... Now gone.
Man of my dreams... Now gone.
She was born to be free...
She was born to be free...
I will never hear him talk.
I will never hear him talk.
Ran over him and our hearts!
Ran over him and our hearts!
Why will he not wake up?
Why will he not wake up?
She... epic, I just loved her.
She... epic, I just loved her.
She fought for us and lost.
She fought for us and lost.
He made me laugh at myself.
He made me laugh at myself.
Husband and son taken together. Shattered.
Husband and son taken together. Shattered.
Once upon a time... Then, grief.
Once upon a time... Then, grief.
I loved them like my sisters.
I loved them like my sisters.
When I most needed him, gone.
When I most needed him, gone.
He came. He cared. He died.
He came. He cared. He died.
He was my best eight years.
He was my best eight years.
Promised he'd never leave me... ever...
Promised he'd never leave me... ever...
Stillborn baby, born still, still born.
Stillborn baby, born still, still born.
My dad, my hero, is gone.
My dad, my hero, is gone.
Love treasured. Deeply missed. Living still.
Love treasured. Deeply missed. Living still.
It all just seems like yesterday...
It all just seems like yesterday...
A generous soul gave another life.
A generous soul gave another life.
Didn't know that was goodbye.
Didn't know that was goodbye.
I'm not who I once was.
I'm not who I once was.
I was eleven and far away.
I was eleven and far away.
She never said "I love you."
She never said "I love you."
Begged God to take me instead.
Begged God to take me instead.

Wake me up from this nightmare.
Wake me up from this nightmare.
No one can ever replace you.
No one can ever replace you.

We wrote a book!

After writing online articles for What’s Your Grief
for over a decade, we finally wrote a tangible,
real-life book!

After writing online articles for What’s Your Grief for over a decade, we finally wrote a tangible, real-life book!

What’s Your Grief? Lists to Help you Through Any Loss is for people experiencing any type of loss. This book discusses some of the most common grief experiences and breaks down psychological concepts to help you understand your thoughts and emotions. It also shares useful coping tools, and helps the reader reflect on their unique relationship with grief and loss.

You can find What’s Your Grief? Lists to Help you Through Any Loss wherever you buy books:

Let’s be grief friends.

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131 Comments on "64 Six Word Stories About Grief"

Click here to leave a Comment
  1. Maddix chisco  January 27, 2023 at 5:13 pm Reply

    “Your time long…Still I cry”

    1
  2. Linny  September 1, 2021 at 7:52 pm Reply

    2 lives
    1 lost
    0 hearts to never beat again.

    3
  3. Devin Cary  January 25, 2021 at 3:21 pm Reply

    You all live
    In my heart

    1
  4. Devin C  January 25, 2021 at 3:18 pm Reply

    Mommy, Daddy, Brother.
    I miss you.

    1
  5. Laurel Van Horn  January 17, 2021 at 12:42 pm Reply

    Gorgeous man in every way – adore!

    1
  6. Laurel Van Horn  January 17, 2021 at 12:38 pm Reply

    Love of my life – no question.

    1
  7. Laurel Van Horn  January 17, 2021 at 12:36 pm Reply

    All we shared. Forever in heart.

    1
  8. Karessa  October 3, 2019 at 3:42 pm Reply

    You are safe from yourself now.

    1
  9. Jacqueline Brown Milman  August 10, 2019 at 6:03 am Reply

    He lived a weird , wonderful life.

    1
  10. Tish Reed  August 9, 2019 at 3:59 pm Reply

    I miss your Sunday Mexican breakfasts.

    2
  11. Brianna  April 13, 2019 at 12:22 am Reply

    Thought 5 years, got 3 months

    2
  12. Ana Christina  March 31, 2019 at 12:35 pm Reply

    Lost my biggest fan to cancer.

    2
  13. Terrilynn  December 22, 2018 at 2:48 am Reply

    Ring.Ring. “Hi Mom.” Never again.

    2
  14. Terrilynn  December 22, 2018 at 2:46 am Reply

    I just don’t want to hurt.

    1
  15. Krissy Rich  November 15, 2018 at 7:29 pm Reply

    Life will never be the same

    1
  16. Christina Gazmer  September 26, 2018 at 5:38 am Reply

    In case of him…”imagine if”……

    1
  17. Mary  August 24, 2018 at 5:11 am Reply

    “Mary? She didn’t make it.”
    No.

    1
  18. Georgina  July 29, 2018 at 9:59 am Reply

    Took her last breath, wings spread

    2
  19. Dawn  March 30, 2018 at 9:48 am Reply

    My Joker took the laughter away.

    He’s laughing in Gotham right now.

    1
  20. Dawn  March 30, 2018 at 9:48 am Reply

    My Joker took the laughter away.

    He’s laughing in Gotham right now.

    1
  21. Dawn  March 30, 2018 at 9:45 am Reply

    Heart’s dead, vagina’s not. God’s cruel.

    1
  22. Dawn  March 30, 2018 at 9:45 am Reply

    Heart’s dead, vagina’s not. God’s cruel.

    1
  23. Dawn  March 30, 2018 at 9:42 am Reply

    He’s reading Harry Potter in Heaven.

    1
  24. Dawn  March 30, 2018 at 9:42 am Reply

    He’s reading Harry Potter in Heaven.

    1
  25. Dawn  March 29, 2018 at 4:18 pm Reply

    I can’t even move his toothbrush.

    1
  26. Dawn  March 29, 2018 at 4:18 pm Reply

    I can’t even move his toothbrush.

    1
  27. Dawn  March 29, 2018 at 4:08 pm Reply

    The Joker killed, Harley is broken

    1
  28. Dawn  March 29, 2018 at 4:08 pm Reply

    The Joker killed, Harley is broken

    1
  29. Kathy  February 28, 2018 at 10:08 pm Reply

    Doc, get me five more years

    1
  30. Kathy  February 28, 2018 at 10:08 pm Reply

    Doc, get me five more years

    1
  31. Erin  October 31, 2017 at 2:14 pm Reply

    While she dies, they leave me

    1
  32. Erin  October 31, 2017 at 2:14 pm Reply

    While she dies, they leave me

    1
  33. Jayme Baird  September 29, 2017 at 10:43 am Reply

    The last “love you” never said

    1
  34. Jayme Baird  September 29, 2017 at 10:43 am Reply

    The last “love you” never said

    1
  35. Kelly  August 18, 2017 at 10:42 am Reply

    Going to leave this Brokedown Palace.

    1
  36. Tamara  May 20, 2017 at 7:09 am Reply

    We were on the phone together.

    1
  37. Franki  May 11, 2017 at 11:20 am Reply

    Writing numbers on the calendar. 61.

    1
  38. Charity  January 31, 2017 at 2:52 pm Reply

    But I still need you Dad

    1
  39. Bella  January 17, 2017 at 1:03 am Reply

    In your casket, drunk no more.

    1
    • Oceangift  January 17, 2017 at 11:05 am Reply

      Ah Bella, this is my 6 words as well.

      1
  40. Mark Zerbe  December 10, 2016 at 8:27 pm Reply

    Peg, you were my happiness Baby

    1
  41. Bella  November 5, 2016 at 7:53 pm Reply

    Alcoholism has destroyed all our lives.

    2
    • Oceangift  January 17, 2017 at 11:06 am Reply

      Yes, Bella all of our lives.

      2
  42. R  November 4, 2016 at 10:55 am Reply

    I’ll make you so proud, granny.

    1
  43. Kathleen  October 10, 2016 at 8:42 pm Reply

    We laughed, he died, I cry.

    2
  44. Carolyn  October 5, 2016 at 8:43 pm Reply

    I miss you my little vagabond!

    1
  45. claudace  September 24, 2016 at 1:07 pm Reply

    I am sorry to inform you……
    (still hear it like it was yesterday)

    2
  46. joan morris  September 18, 2016 at 12:10 pm Reply

    Life goes, Love stays. Now what??

    1
  47. Kat  September 9, 2016 at 4:31 pm Reply

    Two years since I’ve gone outside.

    3
  48. Abby  September 8, 2016 at 10:37 pm Reply

    At his daughter’s wedding, he drowned

    1
  49. Gilda  September 8, 2016 at 11:19 am Reply

    Understand now the love I had.

    1
  50. Gracie  September 7, 2016 at 9:54 am Reply

    I’m so sorry for your loss….

    1
  51. Sarah Sparks  September 3, 2016 at 2:51 am Reply

    Phone rang, silence……..Die he die?

    1
    • Litsa  September 4, 2016 at 11:08 am Reply

      Ah Sarah, I can relate to this one so much . . .

      1
  52. Maureen  September 2, 2016 at 9:14 pm Reply

    My Godly son, who saved me.

    1
  53. Mary E Case  August 13, 2016 at 9:18 am Reply

    She said, “See you Monday!”….

    1
  54. Abigail  July 25, 2016 at 9:18 am Reply

    Forever repeating, I love you more

    1
  55. Emily  July 9, 2016 at 6:21 pm Reply

    Hands touched. Eyes met. Last breath.

    1
  56. Dawn  July 7, 2016 at 11:44 pm Reply

    He wouldn’t want this much crying

    1
  57. Nancy  June 30, 2016 at 4:57 pm Reply

    The sky was different that day.

    1
  58. Melinda  June 24, 2016 at 11:21 am Reply

    Father, brothers, daughter, son, addiction- deaths

    1
  59. fiona  April 25, 2016 at 7:28 pm Reply

    Eleven years, your suicide my death

    2
  60. Devin Clark  April 14, 2016 at 1:37 pm Reply

    It’s hard to breathe without you.

    1
  61. Rose Gallegos  April 11, 2016 at 1:38 pm Reply

    My life, my love, my superman.

    1
  62. Jenny Jordan  April 7, 2016 at 3:47 pm Reply

    I will outlive you this year.

    1
  63. Tami  April 6, 2016 at 10:23 pm Reply

    Searching for what hides within.

    1
  64. Val  April 5, 2016 at 4:01 pm Reply

    Angry you refused to stop drinking.

    1
    • Marcheta  April 5, 2016 at 4:25 pm Reply

      Val, you are not alone – those are my words too.?

      1
    • Jenny Jordan  April 7, 2016 at 3:49 pm Reply

      Val and Marcheta, we are of the same tribe.

      1
      • Finn  January 22, 2024 at 9:31 am

        Val, Marcheta and Jenny, we are the same…

        1
  65. Kirsten Helmer  April 5, 2016 at 12:18 pm Reply

    Neverending emptiness, pain – crushing my soul.

    1
  66. Tina Hawkins  March 29, 2016 at 6:23 pm Reply

    I am no longer a mother! ?

    1
    • Angela  May 1, 2016 at 12:07 pm Reply

      You will always be his(her) mother.

      1
  67. Jewel  March 27, 2016 at 8:23 am Reply

    The letter “Y”, Unanswered, Question, left.

    1
  68. Kathy  March 27, 2016 at 8:15 am Reply

    my precious son is gone forever

    1
  69. Karen  March 26, 2016 at 10:06 pm Reply

    Oh, Honey, what do I do?

    1
  70. Vanessa  March 26, 2016 at 5:59 pm Reply

    being who now you left me?

    1
  71. Carla  March 25, 2016 at 8:32 am Reply

    Three broken hearts miss you terribly

    You were my one and only???

    1
  72. Sheryl  March 23, 2016 at 1:42 am Reply

    I want to go with Dad.

    1
  73. Hubby  March 22, 2016 at 8:33 pm Reply

    last birthday was her last birthday

    1
  74. Rebecca  March 22, 2016 at 1:55 pm Reply

    It goes on… why must I?

    1
  75. Dani  March 20, 2016 at 10:22 pm Reply

    Family is gone now…alone sucks.

    1
  76. M  March 20, 2016 at 5:04 pm Reply

    Crying eyes, as Poe wrote nevermore

    1
  77. Pattie Holm  March 20, 2016 at 10:49 am Reply

    House for sale. Never moved in

    1
  78. Yam Kahol  March 20, 2016 at 8:25 am Reply

    Doctor: “legally I have the right”.

    1
  79. M  March 19, 2016 at 8:10 pm Reply

    Ordinary Sunday, except alcohol finally won.

    1
    • Oceangift  March 19, 2016 at 9:05 pm Reply

      Thank you. M.
      Ordinary Tuesday, except alcohol finally won.

      1
  80. Imma  March 19, 2016 at 7:05 am Reply

    Killing time until time kills me

    2
  81. Mary  March 18, 2016 at 12:02 am Reply

    I am not who I once was. Loved that one!

    1
  82. Vicki  March 17, 2016 at 11:17 pm Reply

    Suddenly fire was consuming our world.

    1
  83. lucille thares  March 17, 2016 at 7:43 pm Reply

    He loved nature, he loved me.

    1
  84. Emma  March 17, 2016 at 5:42 pm Reply

    I’m sorry, there is no heartbeat…

    1
  85. Juli Henderson  March 17, 2016 at 5:04 pm Reply

    “Survived By” versus “Survivor”… Cancer Sucks…

    1
    • Gracie  September 7, 2016 at 9:53 am Reply

      So sad but so true. Cancer SUCKS!

      1
  86. gretchen greeley waters  March 17, 2016 at 10:42 am Reply

    I thought I would go first

    1
  87. Chelsea  March 17, 2016 at 2:15 am Reply

    When he left, my world shattered

    1
  88. Jeanette  March 17, 2016 at 12:41 am Reply

    He made me a better person

    1
  89. Jillian  March 16, 2016 at 8:59 pm Reply

    Your mom has stage iv colon cancer……

    1
  90. Oceangift  March 16, 2016 at 8:30 pm Reply

    Leon, are you finally at peace?

    1
  91. Pat S  March 16, 2016 at 7:07 pm Reply

    The words “he’s gone.” World changed.

  92. Marsha B.  March 16, 2016 at 5:17 pm Reply

    Must live on – do I care?

  93. Michelle  March 16, 2016 at 4:35 pm Reply

    Waiting to hear your song always!

  94. Andrea  March 16, 2016 at 3:52 pm Reply

    One gun, three lives, forever changed.

  95. Donna  March 16, 2016 at 2:47 pm Reply

    I keep hoping this is a bad dream

  96. Suzy  March 16, 2016 at 2:33 pm Reply

    Kevin I promise to not crumble

  97. Grace Young  March 16, 2016 at 1:19 pm Reply

    Precious firstborn son died by suicide.

  98. Felicia Van Doran  March 16, 2016 at 12:57 pm Reply

    A father, a son, together forever

  99. Martha  March 16, 2016 at 11:35 am Reply

    Widow, but still in love.

  100. Kerry  March 16, 2016 at 10:55 am Reply

    “Live life for both of us”

  101. Cathy Dover Stetson  March 16, 2016 at 10:43 am Reply

    Heroin: you stole my beloved son.

    • Suzy  March 16, 2016 at 2:34 pm Reply

      This could be my 6 words as well…heroin is the tool of the devil

  102. Barbara  March 16, 2016 at 10:21 am Reply

    He lived, he loved, he left.

  103. Karen  March 16, 2016 at 9:08 am Reply

    Love could not heal you…..

  104. Tracey Hall  March 16, 2016 at 8:36 am Reply

    He made me want to live…

  105. Susan Gray  March 16, 2016 at 8:16 am Reply

    Two children, now they are gone….

  106. sandra  March 16, 2016 at 6:36 am Reply

    My life ended when his did

  107. Gail  March 16, 2016 at 6:29 am Reply

    Hurts every day – Living without him

  108. Helene Domi  March 16, 2016 at 6:12 am Reply

    Mom and I share a heart

  109. Celeste  March 16, 2016 at 4:48 am Reply

    Love, laughter, tears–then came silence .

  110. Janna  March 16, 2016 at 12:10 am Reply

    Our future together…ended that day

    • Michelle  June 5, 2017 at 2:42 pm Reply

      This could be my six words, too.

  111. Kerrie  March 16, 2016 at 12:09 am Reply

    He said forever. He was wrong.

  112. Paula  March 16, 2016 at 12:04 am Reply

    My guardian angel. Always and forever.

  113. TracyB  March 15, 2016 at 11:58 pm Reply

    Nice normal morning. Earth shattering afternoon.

  114. Janifer  March 15, 2016 at 11:45 pm Reply

    Yesterday a wife, today a widow.

  115. Heather Gammon  March 15, 2016 at 11:18 pm Reply

    Head against chest until dad’s last breath.

  116. Mary  March 15, 2016 at 11:12 pm Reply

    I couldn’t read them all.

  117. Tina Marie  March 15, 2016 at 10:58 pm Reply

    Forever my sister, forever my angel!

  118. Tracy  March 15, 2016 at 10:53 pm Reply

    I love this! It’s amazing the depth of emotion that can be shared with 6 words.

    My six words:
    Her soul paints the sky. Beauty.

    We used this on her urn:
    Strong in love, brave in spirit

  119. LouAnne  March 15, 2016 at 10:50 pm Reply

    Daughter, wife, mother, grandma, greatgrandma, gone.

  120. Kim Heinz  March 15, 2016 at 10:45 pm Reply

    Never heard the word ‘Mom’ again

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