My father has passed away, and my world has fallen apart.

It was always just the two of us, a small house in the countryside, some cats, my father, and me.

In his final year, I stayed home to care for him. I gave up my life as a researcher, my chance to see the world through my work, and even the completion of my PhD, just to be by his side. I didn’t know it would be our last year together.

Now he is gone, and I feel like I have nothing left except the hope of a new beginning. The house where my father lived is not in my name, so I cannot sell it, and even if I could, I would like to keep it as his memory.

I want to take my cats and leave, to start over somewhere new, to build a different life. For this, I need help. I don’t yet know exactly what shape that help will take, perhaps it will go toward securing a loan for an apartment, or toward relocation to another country, bringing my cats with me.

These past years have been heavier than I can put into words. I would like to find the right words to inspire empathy, but all I feel is a lump in my throat, together with the grief. If you can help me take even a small step toward a new beginning, I would be deeply grateful.