I lost my partner, but our relationship was a secret so I can’t talk to anyone | Ask Annalisa Barbieri

You need to process your grief by letting other people in. That means telling them about it
• Every week Annalisa Barbieri addresses a problem sent in by a reader

Six months ago I lost my partner. We were lovers for 22 years. You are the first person I have told about this.

Our relationship was secret, because of his complex family situation. I totally loved everything about him, and I dreamed of a time when we could be openly together.