The Empty Side of Our Bed (Paperback)

This is not a how-to book. It is a grief memoir written by someone who lived it — an honest account of love, loss, and the difficult path of rebuilding a life after losing a spouse.

Foreword by Elizabeth Coplan, founder of Grief Dialogues
Endorsed by the National Widowers’ Organization

"What a powerful and beautifully written story. It arrived on a Saturday, and by 10 pm Sunday, I finished it. This book is uplifting and instills hope for grieving widowers. It is straightforward and non-clinical, making it easier to read. Your section on triggers is very helpful, as many do not recognize the triggers that music or smells can elicit. Thank you for sharing your journey of grief. We will add your book to the resources on our website."
— Dr. Sherry R. Schachter, PhD, FT, RN
President and Vice-Chair, National Widowers’ Organization

Recognized as a resource by leading grief support organizations and featured by the Hospice Foundation of America

The Empty Side of Our Bed: A Journey Through Love, Loss, and Moving Forward is a deeply personal exploration of life after loss — a raw and honest account of love, caregiving, grief, and the difficult journey of rebuilding after losing a spouse.

Continuing the story that began in Love, Family, Cancer, Bill Beckett opens the door to the reality that comes after the loss: the empty chair, the silent house, the painful “firsts,” the unexpected triggers, and the challenge of finding a way forward while still honoring the love that came before.

This memoir has been recognized within the grief community and is currently listed as a resource by the National Widowers’ Organization, Wings for Widows, and Centering Resources. It has also been featured in Journeys, the monthly publication of the Hospice Foundation of America, highlighting its message of compassion, understanding, and hope for those navigating life after loss.

With honesty and vulnerability, Bill shares the moments that break us, the memories that sustain us, and the quiet victories that come with learning how to live again. This is not a story about forgetting. It is a story about carrying love forward.

The Empty Side of Our Bed is for widows, widowers, caregivers, family members, and anyone searching for understanding, hope, and reassurance that even after unimaginable loss, a meaningful life can still be rebuilt.