Kade: How long did it take before you could think of her without... Opal: The burning pain? Kade: Yes. Opal: Two to three years. But don't go by me. Everyone grieves in different ways. For some, it could take longer or shorter. I do know it never disappears. An ember still smolders inside me. Most days, I don't notice it, but, out of the blue, it'll flare to life.