i agree that you approached this more bleaky than tolkien was like to, but it gives us that feeling of innocence facing loss and the first loss is so very traumatic in this case that the "cure" is going to be that much subtler. it's like within a family if a child experiences some 'small deaths' (pets, not close family friends, minor acquaintances) and then has a beloved grandparent die, it is easier to get to the point of they have gone to a better place. but is the very first death experience they have is a beloved parent or grandparent they are too tyed up in the denial and hurt to begin a discussion of where they have gone and what they have left to remind us of them.

and it this case even the caregivers have never experienced this kind of loss so they are all (pardon me) groping in the dark!

wonderfull little night light you have lit.