The Aftermath...

April 11, 2014, my cousin committed suicide.

8:15 a.m. My dad calls my cell phone while i'm sitting in school of course i dont answer it (im in school), then another teacher came into the room and told me that my dad was on the phone he said "go away from everybody else, David killed himself last night" (then he paused trying not to cry) "i need you to get your coat and go to the guidance office i'm coming to get you" and at this point i could not even process what he just told me I can't even believe it i'm in complete shock, then he came and got me. The ride over to there house was just a blur trying to hold back tears and process what i was just told.

When we walked into my aunts house all I see is my mom, aunt, uncle, (other) cousin, grandma, and grandpa crying. My mom comes running over to me and we both just start crying and crying. My aunt and uncle could barley even stand and this point as you can imagine, all my aunt keep saying was "i want them to get his body off the ground" "i cant get that image out of my head". That whole day and the next day was just 100% crying and trying to find answers why and if anybody knew, and none of those answer were found. That same night the students of his school held a balloon releasing and candle lighting, that my family all attended, it was beautiful and right before we released the balloons we all said "to David" and watched all the balloons fly away into the sky. Thats when it sunk in that he was really gone.

Sunday was his wake the funeral home wanted us to have it at a church because they were expected to many people to fit in there home. Myself and my family didn't really have an idea of how many friends he had or how he affected the kids at his school, but we shortly found all this out. His wake was held at a large church and for three hours straight there was a line out the door and down the whole street. We found out after that there were over 1,000 people who attended his wake, and after people came over the house and told us stories and all we keep thinking was "he really had no clue how many people loved and cares for him, he was not thinking about the aftermath of this"

Monday, the funeral, we got to see him for the very last time in the morning before the funeral, that was probably the hardest moment of all of our life's. The service was perfect and once again this very large church was completely filled not an empty seat and not a dry eye. To my surprise my assistant principle and athletic director showed up to pay there respects. His school chorus was singing and brought myself and family to tears and now we all love every single kid that was his friend and all the kids in that school

Now I am writing this almost three weeks later, my cousin and I are closer then we have ever been, my whole family is stronger, there is a scholarship fund in his name, and everyday we are living for him and raising awareness and helping anybody we can. He had no idea at all how many life's he would affected by doing this and how many life's are changed forever.

R.i.p David we love you forever!!!!