Her son passed away over a year ago. His best friend still brings her dinner every Wednesday.

Her son passed away over a year ago. His best friend still brings her dinner every Wednesday.

One of the most painful consequences of grief is the loss of community. People fall away, lose touch, and become strangers with those who once were close.But when Erika Hernandez lost her son Jovan in 2023 to gun violence, his best friend Mali never failed in supporting her and keeping Jovan's memory alive through their friendship. Now, a year and a half after his passing, Mali has created a tradition with Hernandez: The two get together every W…