One who left you now feeling the strain, reportedly — such is life! (9)

I believe the answer is:

existence

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'is life' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for existence that I've seen before include "survival" , "A way of living" , "Way of life" , "The business of being" , "State of being" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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