“Do you realize that everyone you know someday will die?

And instead of saying all of your goodbyes,

Let them know you realize that life goes fast

It's hard to make the good things last” — The Flaming Lips

The end of life, either your own or a loved one’s, is difficult to fathom. Brilliant writers have confronted the subject with honesty and courage in our section, creating essays that are among our most thought-provoking. We are highlighting some of them this weekend.