The grief of LOSING A FRIEND

When Katie Bullon's best friend passed away, she had to learn to navigate a life without her

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We're all born with a family but, as we go through life, the friends we make along the way can become the people we hold closest. The ones whose lives are interwoven with our own, and who we share memories and experiences with. Chosen family, who we love deeply and without judgement.

That's how I felt about one of my best friends, Naomi, and having grown up together, I assumed she'd be by my side forever. So when she passed away suddenly at the age of 34, I was left numb with grief and utter shock.

Part of a tight-knit group of eight girls, we met at secondary school in Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan. Naomi - known as Nom - and I spent so many good times in our year group common room together, along with Hollie, Nicola, Claire, Laura, Chloe and Faye.

Passionate and straight-talking, Nom wa always cracking jokes, her loud infectious laugh ringing out. In 2003, after our A-levels, aged 18, we all went on holiday to Majorca. Young and carefree, we drank cocktails on the beach and danced under the stars, and Nom always had her camera in hand. She loved capturing our memories and laughing at our antics, watching everyone having fun.

During our 20s and 30s, our lives went in different directions, but we remained close, attending each other's weddings and baby showers and having regular get-togethers.

As a group, we worried about Nom, as she had persistent mental health struggles over the years, but we all remained close and enjoyed special times together.

Terrible news