(KRON) -- San Francisco 49ers star cornerback Charvarius Ward dealt with immense trauma in 2024 after his 1-year-old daughter died in October. On Monday, Ward opened up to reporters about what life has been like for him since her passing. His daughter Amani Joy was born prematurely with Down syndrome and battled heart issues before her tragic death. Ward, 28, stepped away from the team for three games afterward. He said Monday that returning to the team was a mistake. "It took everything physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually... it took all of that every day for me to just come here and be able to practice," Ward said. "I wasn't even going to meetings half the time because my social battery was so low. I just didn't want to be around people." 49ers stars reflect on how season badly derailed Ward is a pending free agent, and when asked about the possibility of coming back to the 49ers, the 2023 Pro Bowler said that he now associates California with his daughter's death, and his partner has not been able to live there since she passed for that reason. "Every time I get on the plane to come back to California, Santa Clara, San Jose and show up here, it just brings back bad memories," said Ward, a Mississippi native. Ward's partner leaving California means he has to spend every night at home alone, he said. That has been particularly tough for Ward as he works to overcome the greatest tragedy of his life. He has also been dealing with PTSD since Amani's death, saying he often throws up and wakes up in the middle of the night in sweats. As for what's next, Ward isn't ruling out a return to the 49ers, but he will let the market dictate his future. "I just want to go somewhere where I'm wanted, where I'm loved. I feel like that's what I need right now, a lot of love," he said.