Submission 57

J & A,

J, I can never describe the pain I felt the day you left us. You were kind and funny and beautiful and you had the most infectious laugh. If only you could have felt the love that was all around for you, maybe things would have been different, maybe you'd have made a different choice that night.

A, you couldn't fight your demons anymore and I understand that. Addiction is hard and it is an illness. I don't think you even knew there was a problem til it hit you all at once. We are islands in the stream.

I love you both and will remember you forever. I hope beyond hope that some day, something will change and there will be less stigma and more support for those suffering and those in crisis. I'm sorry you couldn't see another way and I'm sorry that split second decision changed so many lives forever. I'm sorry you didn't feel like you could reach out. I say so many what if's every day. But what if there was more mental health support readily available? I promise that until the day I leave this earth I will fight for those who need it and I will reach out to everyone I can offer support to.