The death of a partner or spouse, whether sudden or anticipated, either due to the course of aging or illness, is a traumatic experience for those left behind. The emotions associated with the loss can be surprising, to say the least. Even if you were "prepared" for your partner to die, expect feelings of shock, fear and perhaps even relief. There's nothing you "should" be feeling at that time – loss is a unique experience for everyone, and no one undergoes it in exactly the same way. And returning to a new normal is an adjustment for everyone. Give yourself time to get to that place; again, it takes everyone differing amounts of time, and there's no correct way to get there. When death is the outcome of a terminal illness, spouses may have time to prepare and begin to transition to a life without their partner.