There is no expectation to share here.

Some people feel drawn to tell their story. Others don’t.
Both are valid.

This page exists for those moments when you might want to put words around your experience of grief;

not to explain it, fix it, or make something meaningful from it

but simply to have it witnessed.

You don’t need to be a writer.
You don’t need to have clarity.
You don’t need to know what your story is “about”.

Your experience already counts.

What this space is for

Stories shared here are lived experiences of grief.

They might be:

• short or long

• unfinished or uncertain

• focused on one moment rather than a whole story

• written plainly or poetically

There is no expectation that your story:

• offers hope

• shows growth

• finds meaning

• helps anyone else

This is not a place for lessons or silver linings.
It is a place for honesty.

What this space isn’t for

To keep this space safe and supportive for everyone, we don’t publish submissions that include:

• graphic descriptions of death, injury, or suicide

• explicit detail about self-harm or methods

• advice or instruction directed at others

• content intended to persuade, preach, or explain grief

This isn’t because those experiences don’t matter.
It’s because this space is about witnessing, not instruction or exposure.

Reading and care

Sharing your story can stir things up.

If writing begins to feel overwhelming, you’re allowed to:

• stop

• step away

• come back another time

This space is not a crisis service.

If you’re feeling unsafe or need immediate support,

please reach out to someone you trust or a professional support service in your area.

Support in Aotearoa New Zealand

If writing or reading brings up distress, you don’t have to carry that alone.

If you need immediate help, call 111.

For support at any time, these free services are available in Aotearoa:

• 1737 - Call or text 1737
  To talk with a trained counsellor, 24/7

• Lifeline - 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357
  24/7 emotional support

• Suicide Crisis Helpline - 0508 TAUTOKO (828 865)
  For people feeling suicidal or supporting someone who is

• Youthline - 0800 376 633 or text HELP to 234
  Support for young people, and those supporting them

You can also reach out to someone you trust, or your GP, if that feels easier.

How submissions are handled

All stories are:

• read with care

• lightly edited only if needed for clarity or safety

• moderated before being published

Not every submission will be shared publicly.
This is not a judgement of worth, it’s about maintaining a safe environment for all readers.

Your name and privacy

You’re welcome to:

• share anonymously

• use a first name only

• request changes or removal later

Your story remains yours.

If you’d like to share

When you’re ready, you can submit your story using the form below.

There is no deadline.
There is no obligation to publish.
You won’t be chased or followed up.

If this page simply helped you feel less alone, that is enough.

Submission Form

A quiet permission

You don’t owe your grief a story.

If you choose to share, it’s because your experience exists;

not because it needs to become something.

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