Years later I learnt that Daisy had become suddenly ill and died shortly thereafter. I pressed Mum: “Why didn’t you tell me?” “Well,” Mum replied. “You were only four years old; I didn’t think you were ready to grapple with traumatic things like death and disease.” To this day I don’t understand her logic. Death and disease are facts of life, and as such can be explained, even to a child. Or, she could have lied. Kids can swallow a lie! But a sudden disappearance of a friend left completely unexplained? How could any child hope to wrap their head around that without rising distress?
