In Joan Didion's "The Year of Magical Thinking," she explores the profound loneliness that follows death. She suggests that after a loved one passes away, their absence creates a void where the various connections in life once existed. These relationships, whether deep or seemingly trivial, contribute to one's sense of belonging and identity. When they are gone, the survivors face a stark reality of isolation.

Didion's reflections highlight that true solitude is experienced only by those left behind, as the loss strips away the tapestry of relationships that once provided comfort and meaning. The impact of losing someone is not limited to the grief of their absence; it extends to the dismantling of a network of support and shared experiences, leaving the survivor to navigate a world that feels suddenly empty.