3 weeks ago, I lost my mother to cancer. She was a single mother who took care of her only child (me) for 21 years. We didn't really have the best relationship when I was a kid, and I grew up with some mental health issues. Fast forward to when I was in college, I had realized that I was getting so much closer to my mother. She changed for the better and so did I. We became partners. We went on mother-daughter dates. It almost felt like we were sisters. I already imagined growing old with her and taking care of her. Then one day she came into my room and told me to lock the door behind me, because she was going to tell me something serious. I remember her holding both of my hands as she told me about having cancer. She was already in stage 3. I felt confused. I knew that cancer was real, but I always thought that it was only something I saw in movies. Losing her was the biggest heartbreak I have ever had. I couldn't believe it and I felt so alone. Having your only parent, your only family, being taken away from you forever might just be the most painful thing to experience. But because of that experience, I have learned that pain is not always such a bad thing. I have learned to look on the brighter side. It's hard, but it must be done to move forward. It's hard for me to fully accept this reality, but I know how much harder it must have been for her to try to stay alive, because she knew her daughter needed her. The pain she felt must have made her want to let go, but she knew I wasn't ready to let her go. It has been 3 weeks now and there are nights when I still cry myself to sleep, but I have also been getting this weird positivity. The pain I've been feeling made me think about my future more and gave me motivation to strive harder and become an independent person. My mother used to do everything for me; She washed all of my clothes, cleaned my room, prepared meals for me, everything. She called me "Baby" because I was her baby and she didn't notice me growing older. Now that she's gone, I know she would have wanted me to learn how to do things on my own now and take care of myself. Sometimes, things just happen and life doesn't give you a reason. How you understand these realities is completely up to you. I choose to face mine with a positive mind and an open heart. At least that's what I know my mother would have wanted for me. Frankly, I wasn't always such a strong and positive person. In fact, I have always been the complete opposite. Pain has given me the kind of strength I would have never gotten elsewhere, and I believe it can be the same for you too.