Woman Thought She Wouldn't Ever Move on After Fiancée's Death. Then a Simple Gesture Helped Her Heal (Exclusive)

In a touching moment, Brittanie Lynn Ritchie’s girlfriend honors her late fiancée, sparking a conversation about love after loss and moving forward

In a viral TikTok that highlights love after loss, Brittanie Lynn Ritchie shares the touching moment her new girlfriend, Katie Martin, hangs a photo of Ritchie and her late fiancée, Rochelle "Roe" Hager, in their new home. 

The gesture has sparked a conversation across social media on the journey of healing and reconnecting with love after the death of a loved one. 

Ritchie and Hager's love story blossomed on TikTok during the pandemic, with Hager making a move from Pennsylvania to Maine to live with Ritchie. Their relationship, which was tragically cut short following Hager's death in 2021, has left an incredible mark on Ritchie's life.

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"She paved the road for the way I deserve to be treated," Ritchie tells PEOPLE exclusively. "She was so gentle with me, and she taught me what it's like to be treated well."

At the time, Ritchie and Hager were social media influencers, which made her grieving process particularly difficult. "It was a very public grieving process," Hager explains. But, she adds, "our followers deserved to know and see the process."

While the healing journey was tough, Ritchie eventually found love with her new partner, Martin, whom she also met via TikTok in 2022. The two had a long-distance relationship for two years before they moved into a home of their own in August 2024. 

Martin's understanding of Ritchie's late fiancée has only solidified the couple's love. "She's always been very supportive," Ritchie says of Martin. "She wants to know about Roe; it's almost as if she wants to know her." 

@brittanielynnnn

Im so freaking in love with this woman i swear