The thing about grief is there's no definitive time- limit on how long it lasts for when you lose someone you love.
Five years after losing their son in a car accident, one family still feel that loss keenly. To commemorate his life, they have maintained a small memorial on the spot where he died.
Dylan Coen, 18, died five years ago in Georgia, US, after the teen lost control of his vehicle on a bend, CBS47 reports.
Ansley, who described her brother as her best friend, said: "He had a big heart and he would just light up the room."
Grieving parents of stillborn daughter are reminded of pain as vile troll mocks loss
In their grief, his family placed a simple blue cross, with fresh flowers and a white balloon, at the site of the collision on a street in Brunswick.
However, the neighbours on the residential street where the memorial is are, apparently, fed up of it - and vocalised this in a heartless letter to the family.
It begins: "It is very unfortunate that you lost your son and grandson.
Young dad of five dies weeks after cancer diagnosis and marriage to love of life
"The residents who live off [the street] have lost loved ones just like you.
Here's where the letter becomes seriously cold, as they write: "You burden us with your make-shift memorial in our backyard.
"It is downright despicable to remember your loved one this way.
"If you can’t afford a proper memorial in a proper place then go on the internet and set up a ‘go-fund-me’ page and ask for donations.
"It has been five years, get on with your life. We are tired of sharing your pain."
Woman who lost son and husband just five days apart describes unimaginable pain
The letter was recently shared to Reddit , where users imagined the memorial to be a massive eyesore.
Few people felt that the neighbours had the right to send such a thing.
"I've seen so many of these memorials everywhere I drive and even on my street," one woman said.
"Never once did I think 'I don't want to see that'.
"I stop for a moment and think briefly 'how sad someone lost a life here' and move on.
"I can't imagine lacking so much empathy that you get to this point of nastiness."
Simon Thomas returning to work with This Morning after wife's tragic loss
"Sometimes it's okay to let people grieve," agree another woman.
That said, not everyone agreed with the concept of a roadside memorial. One man who lost a loved one in a road accident commented:
"I drive past the spot regularly, but keep my grieving at the graveyard.
"No need to ruin such a nice place with my misery."
Others felt a roadside memorial was inappropriate for other reasons:
"If everyone put up memorials for their loved ones where they died every year we'd be tripping over this s**t constantly," grumbled someone else.
Mum's warning after 'healthy' baby boy died while sleeping in her bed
CBS did approach the family's neighbours, and spoke to Freida Hartzog who said she didn't have a problem with the memorial. She then called for the person responsible for it to "own up and speak their opinion to that family".
A kind-hearted member of the community placed a sign on the cross saying: "God Bless Dylan and his family. May this memorial forever stand as a symbol of a community's love for a special kid."
