Stunned silence.

Invisible shock wave.

First to family.

Friends.

School.

Community.

Impacted.

Blast radius of

Disbelief.

Nausea.

Dread.

Deep sadness.

Questions.

Mourning. 

An unwelcome erasure.

(why another?)

Without notice. 

Young life’s

Future fatally sabotaged.

Attractive smile

Permanently gone.

Photo memories

Now forever left

With ache attached.

Helpless to

Turn back time. 

Can’t.

Hearts reach

Into a void

Desperate to connect

To yesterday

And relive it.

Maybe differently. 

Emptiness 

Takes breath

Away.

Yet 

Our heartbeat

Continues. 

One

Has stopped.

Oh to see. 

Oh to touch.

Oh to hold.

Oh to love.

Oh to reassure.

Oh to listen.

Oh to laugh.

Oh to sing,

Oh to dance. 

Oh to walk.

What cruelty

This absence. 

These tears

That accomplish what?

What?

What now?

What is left?

Process.

Weep.

Reflect.

Don’t rush.  

Ask.

Seek.

Knock.

Find.

Offer.

Slow down. 

See.

Don’t pretend.

Don’t ignore.

Leave selfish pride.

Leave eye rolling.

Leave whispers.

Leave snickering.

Leave image management.

Value all.

Out-do one another

With kindness.

Hug.

Smile. 

Invite.

Love with perseverance. 

Grasp the Truth

That truly

Sets free.

Live it.

Live.