Grief is not a straight path. It does not follow a predictable pattern or give us time to prepare for its weight. In Bodies of Water, Claire Baldwin Harrison explores this truth through Anna, a teenager who witnesses the death of her sister, Laura. This experience marks the beginning of an emotional journey that is not just about loss but about transformation.
When Anna watches Laura slip away, she expects something profound—perhaps final words of wisdom, a revelation, or a sense of closure. Instead, she is left with silence, with the overwhelming realization that the person who guided her through life is gone. This moment resonates deeply because it captures what so many feel when faced with sudden loss: the world does not pause, and grief arrives unannounced, forcing us to make sense of a reality we never imagined.
How Witnessing Loss Changes Us
For Anna, the experience of watching Laura die alters her sense of identity. She is no longer just Laura’s younger sister—she is the one left behind, the one who must navigate a world without her. In many ways, this shift reflects what grief does to all of us. It reshapes our roles, forces us to see ourselves differently, and often leaves us searching for meaning in the absence of someone we love.
Claire Baldwin Harrison’s own experience with loss undoubtedly influences the raw emotions in Anna’s journey. The novel acknowledges a truth that is often overlooked: the loss of someone close is profound. The people we love are our first companions, our shared history, and in many ways, our mirrors. When they are gone, it is not just their absence we grieve, but also the parts of ourselves that were tied to them.
The Unexpected Nature of Grief
One of the most powerful aspects of Bodies of Water is its honest portrayal of how grief does not unfold the way we expect. Anna does not cry immediately. She does not find immediate comfort in the words of others. Instead, she struggles with feelings that are messy and unpredictable. She becomes hyper-aware of her senses—smells, sounds, and textures overwhelm her. She experiences vivid dreams, blurring the lines between memory and reality.
This mirrors the way grief can manifest in unexpected ways. Some people feel numb, unable to process the weight of their loss. Others, like Anna, experience sensory overload, as if the world itself has become too much to handle. There is no singular way to grieve, and that is what makes loss so personal and profound.
Moving Forward Without Leaving Them Behind
As the novel unfolds, Anna does not simply “move on.” Instead, she moves forward, carrying Laura’s presence with her in different ways. This reflects a key message in Harrison’s storytelling: grief is not about forgetting but about learning how to live with the echoes of those we have lost.
In Bodies of Water, witnessing loss is not just about death—it is about what comes after. How we reshape ourselves, how we find meaning, and how we honor those we love, even in their absence.