If Nat is dead, her Mother will think of her every day until she no longer lives. The people I know who lost children never recover. They just don't. It is sad.
This reminds me of when people are being held hostage. At some point the relatives want it over, they want something done even if there is grave risk because they can no longer tolerate not knowing.
At some level we all want it over, some ending even if it is terrible. I wonder what is worse, never knowing, never finding a body or knowing. Either is hell.
We should be grateful for not being in Beth and Dave's place.
I think about that every day. I have thought about it since May 30th. If you live long enough, I'm 57, you lose loved ones, I have. It is a pain that never leaves you. I understand the abject anguish that Tim Miller and Beth are going through. It may be true that God does not give us more pain than we can endure but , there are days when I am not so sure. That is why I dive. At least for a while, I can cruise the reefs with the fish and allow the unbelievable beauty to overwhelm me and I can forget, if only for a little while.