The Word I Said Out Loud For the First Time

It landed heavier than I expected

Labels Only Mean What You Let Them Mean

I use the word “widow” here as a general descriptor—one that includes widower, too

Someone asked if my husband was retired or still working, and without thinking too much about it, I answered:

“I’m a widow.”

It landed heavier than I expected.

I. Am. A. Widow.

It’s a word that feels like it wants to take over. Like it co…