lifestyle

Just try to read this post without crying. Try.

Alright, seriously. Try to read this post without crying. Or at least feeling as though you’d like to melt into a giant puddle of love and sadness and ALL THE FEELINGS EVER.

This gentleman’s name is Ben Nunery. Ben married his wife, Ali, in 2009; and because the two of them had just bought a house, they decided to take their wedding photos in it.

But there’s a tragic twist to this story. Ali passed away two and a half years later from cancer. She was just 31. She left behind Ben, and their young daughter Olivia.

Ben and Olivia have decided to move into a new house for Olivia to grow into and enjoy. But before they went, they decided to do one last photo shoot in the old house, and recreate some of the images that were originally taken during the wedding shoot.

Ali’s sister, Melanie Tracey Pace, took the images. They’re a stunningly different type of farewell and an incredible tribute to Ali and her life.

On his blog, Ben wrote about the experience, saying:

It was fun and strange and sad and comforting and just about every other emotion you can think of. And, it wasn’t until I drove away that the significance of what we had just done hit me like a ton of bricks. These would be the last memories in that house.

I did it for me. I did it for us. I did it so I would have something to show for the love and beauty that occupied that house for a short time in our lives. I wanted to be able to show Olivia the place where her mother and I started our lives together and dreamed of raising children.

Many people have asked me how I felt while doing that photo session. What I want them to know is that this isn’t a story about grief and loss and hurt. Yes, I’ve gone through those emotions and still do but that’s not what I want people to see in these photos. This is a story about love.

Waaaaahhhhhhh.

Rest in peace, Ali, and best of luck to both Ben and Olivia.

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