Grief is a curious thing, when it happens unexpectedly. It is a Band-Aidbeing ripped away, taking the top layer off a family. And the underbellyof a household is never pretty, ours no exception. There were times Istayed in my room for days on end with headphones on, if only so that Iwould not have to listen to my mother cry. There were the weeks that myfather worked round-the-clock shifts, so that he wouldn't have to comehome to a house that felt too big for us.

Summary

This quote highlights the impact of unexpected grief on a family. It compares grief to the pain of a Band-Aid being abruptly removed, causing a vulnerable layer to be exposed within a household. The speaker describes how they isolated themselves in their room, using headphones to block out their mother's sorrowful sounds. Additionally, it emphasizes the father's avoidance of returning to a home that now feels too vast for their diminished family. Overall, the quote evokes a sense of the hidden struggles and complexities caused by grief within a family dynamic.

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