Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie publicly shared her grief following the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu, in a poignant Instagram letter posted on June 13, 2026.

• The article reflects on Adichie's deeply personal statement and draws parallels with other literary explorations of grief, citing authors like Ann Hood, Virgil, Shakespeare, Dostoevsky, and Ralph Waldo Emerson.
• The core of the piece focuses on Adichie's raw expression of loss, detailing the "tears in things" – the lingering presence of her departed son through his belongings, such as highchairs and toddler beds.
• Adichie's son, Nkanu, who was a twin, is remembered for his "unusual emotional intelligence" and a touching instance where he rubbed his mother's knee and said, "Mama, sorry."