Walking through the streets of L’Aquila there are still remnants of the destruction of the earthquake that hit on 6 April 2009, not only the physical scars but also the emotional ones. 308 people lost their lives. I felt disrespectful laughing, taking photos, acting like a tourist when so many lives were lost. Yet the people rebuild and move forward, trying to keep the memory of those who perished alive.

It got me thinking about grief and how people continue on with their lives amongst loss.  

As the present moves to the future, it feels as though we are leaving those we love behind. But in reality, there is no beginning or end. With every step we take, the echoes of the past are moving with us. There is no longer a separation between past and present as they become one, finally moving together in a shared future.

 It felt as though L’Aquila was ready to move forward.