Kaia Gerber is opening up about the nature of grief following the death of her older brother, Presley Gerber.
More than a month after Presley died at 27 on Sept. 20, the runway model is leaning on one of her favorite pastimes: reading. The 25-year-old literary fan posted an image of stacked books to Instagram on Sunday, Nov. 8, in a joint post with Library Science
, the book platform she cofounded with Alyssa Reeder.Alongside the post, Gerber shared a poignant excerpt from the late Joan Didion's acclaimed memoir "The Year of Magical Thinking," which explores the toll of sudden loss.
What did Kaia Gerber share about grief?
"Grief, when it comes, is nothing we expect it to be. Grief has no distance," the passage
reads. "Grief comes in waves, paroxysms, sudden apprehensions that weaken the knees and blind the eyes and obliterate the dailiness of life."
The post marks a rare public reflection from the model, who shared a tribute for her brother in October after nearly a month of private mourning. After confirming their son's death, her parents, Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, requested "privacy during this very difficult and painful time" in a statement shared with USA TODAY in September.
Kaia Gerber considered brother Presley Gerber the 'ultimate teacher'
"You know how much I loved being your sister. It has always been, and will forever be, my favorite thing about myself," Kaia wrote of Presley in an Oct. 18 Instagram post.
"I came into this world with a white-knuckle grip around you. I had more love for you than I knew what to do with. And now that it has nowhere obvious to go, I'm certain it's going to swallow me whole."
Gerber described Presley as the "ultimate teacher," adding that his loss left her "wondering what I could possibly be taught in" his absence.
"To say loving you was the easiest thing in the world would imply that it required any effort at all," she said. "I was born loving you. I will die loving you. There was never anything else."
Who was Presley Gerber, and how did he die?
Presley Gerber, the only son of Crawford and Gerber, died on Sept. 20 at a rehab facility, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner records.
Gerber entered a sober living program at a rehabilitation facility just hours before his death. The sober living program is part of Resolutions Therapeutic Services, founded by Dr. Reza Nabavi, who has a history of criminal activity and licensing issues, according to state records obtained by USA TODAY.
A model like his mother and sister, Presley openly documented his struggles with substance misuse and mental health issues on social media before he died. On Sept. 21, the Santa Monica Police Department said his death was being investigated "as a suspected overdose," with "no indication of foul play." A cause of death has not been released.
Contributing: Brendan Morrow, Liza Esquibias and Sameen Chaudhry
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, you can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). It's available 24/7 in English and Spanish (TTY: 1-800-487-4889).
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kaia Gerber posts about grief and loss following brother's death at 27
