Happy late birthday Taraz.
The sudden finality of death has popped in my life few times. I lost my partner to a tragic traffic accident back in the summer of 2019, and like you said, life goes on. I spent the long weekend with her friends and family which was much needed. Four of us even got matching cardinal tattoos on the inside of our left ankles. I think about her whenever I do yoga since I get a good view of the ankle and this was a shared passion/activity of ours when we were together.
Then just last Monday, the roommate of my current partner and I, had the tragic misfortune of checking in on her boyfriend to find him dead in his apartment of cardiac arrest. This was a big shock to her and made her reconsider her future in New York City. She decided to head back to her home state of Washington to be able to spend time with her grandmother who is battling cancer. The finality of death put a bigger priority on her being with her family than exploring in NYC.
Once again, back on the hunt for a new roommate.