Just as with anything else people react differently to the picture as well. I'm more with those that would have wished him being free of pain in life, not just after life. It is sad, but after knowing what he went through I took some consolation in knowing that some things cannot touch this man anymore. I didn't find it gory, either.
Some people can handle it better when not confronted with an image of a body, other people need exactly that to process. I share the concern for the family of the rest of the world gawking at their loved one- but a picture of a dead body in itself is not always horrific. In August of 2009 I was even asked to take picture of someone who was no longer alive, it mattered a great deal to the surviving relatives, I had never done that, but by reward was their gratefulness.
I know it might sound strange to some but seeing him this way was heartbreaking- but it also made me well up just wanting to hold his hand. See, to me he's beautiful in death and I did not say "even in death". He's free of the pain. Ortega's email hit me harder than seeing Michael. "he has 4 guards but nobody that offers him a hot cup of tea".
It just goes to show you how differently we all react. Some cannot handle the picture, some can.
Some feel numb, some feel pain. That's okay, really. At least we can share.
And to the OP, I hope the pain subsides and you feel a little better. We're all in the same boat.
And as heartbreaking as all this is, it illustrated what a glorious being he is, strength and weaknesses and all. He's supposedly out of it- and still his love shines- a children's hospital. In life or death, he is a beautiful being. If that much concern for others is evident in a dark hour of mine- man, he sat the bar high, very high...
Sometimes there's beauty in pain and there's a lot of beauty amidst Michael's pain.
