"Wax on, Wax off".

Mentors play a profound role in professional development, providing guidance, confidence, stability, and a sense of belonging. Yet the sudden loss of a mentor can leave a protégé untethered, especially when the relationship extends beyond professional guidance into the fabric of one's personal and professional identity. Drawing on the author's experience of unexpectedly losing a long-standing mentor, this reflection explores the grief and disorientation that can accompany the end of an important mentoring relationship. While painful, losing a mentor can reveal mentorship's lasting influence and prompt a transition from being mentored to becoming a mentor.