The one change that worked: numb with grief, I sat in the dark, surrounded by strangers – and began to heal

‘I was reminded of the world beyond my bubble’ … Georgina Elliott at Genesis cinema, London. Photograph: Ethan Parker/The Guardian

In 2022, my younger brother drowned in an accident. His death reset life as I knew it. I had been offered my first proper job; I didn’t take it. I was planning to move out; I stayed at home. At this critical juncture, with my foot on the pedal, ready to enter adult life, everything exploded.

At home, there were now three of us. We orbited separate corners of the house, each needing a different thing for comfort: for my mum, exercise; for my dad, music; for me, escape.