This study was an autobiographical narrative inquiry that described the experience of the mourning process of an art therapist who delayed mourning for a mother. The researcher viewed the experience of mourning from the perspective of Kavalar-Adler’s ‘developmental mourning’. The purpose of the study was to understand the story and meaning of the researcher who suspended mourning for the mother. The inquiry work consisted of data extracted from recollections, artworks, photos, writing, conversations, and counseling records related to the researcher's mother from childhood to the present. As a result, six stories were extracted:‘Delay mourning,’ ‘Start mourning,’ ‘Recognize loss,’ ‘Unexpressed pain must return,’ ‘Meet a crying child,’ and ‘Close the door to mourn.’ On the journey of mourning, the researcher experienced healing from the loss, lived her authentic life apart from the mother, and gained courage to live her own life. In addition, the experience of reconstructing the meaning of life through the narrative inquiry, living again, and artworks safely dealt with the feelings of loss. The process of mourning was a journey of development through insight, grief, and sadness to find herself again. Based on these findings, the significance and limitations of this study were discussed.