For me it was 10 years old, my Father died of kidney disease on Dec 24th.
Mom and Dad had already been divorced for two years.
Sis lived with our Father, my Mom got custody of me, at the time children of a certain age could choose the parent they wanted to live with.
I was locked in a bedroom closet at my Aunts house the day of the hearing, Mom's lawyer told the court,
I had chose Mom and did not want to appear.
Me and my Sister,both knew our Dad's time was limited with the kidney disease and we would both eventually end up with our Mom, who had mental issues due to Bolvar polio.
Both parents used me and my Sis to hurt each other, eventually my Mom's problems led to me going to my Dad's.
Less than 6 months later he died on Christmas eve.
I was working at our family grocery store that night when my Uncle came and told me, was supposed to see him one last time in the hospital Christmas morning, unfortunately he passed during the night.
Christmas day....
Family showed up and argued all day over who got what, at the end of the day, they all left, leaving me and my eight year old sister alone, hungry and scared in Dad's house.
Never have been able to stomach Christmas.
We ended up with our Mother, in less than two months she abandoned us while we were at school, moved out of the apartment, took everything including clothes, medical records, food....
Once again I found myself alone at ten years old in my hometown trying to figure out how to feed and shelter my sister and myself.
Ended up in the state child welfare/ orphan system, separated from my Sister.
No one in our family wanted us.
It just got worse from there.
Flash forward to 58 years old, military service did more damage.....
There is a lot in between, a lifetimes worth.
After all I've been through in my life, losing my best friend, soul mate, Wife,
Well, the world is fucked.
CPTSD, SEVERE DEPRESSION, BI POLAR DISORDER, Wish I would have CTB decades ago.
Loneliness is what finally drove me to make a plan and start to execute it, I turn 59 next month, not doing anymore time in this hell.
I'm at the station, ticket in hand, just a couple more months to go.
The pain and Loneliness will soon end.
Sorry for rambling.