Shock... Grief

Hug your loved ones. Tell them that you love them.

I was just informed by my mother that my 29 year old brother is dead. Homicide has not been ruled out though the police believe it was suicide. It doesn't matter. He is dead. He leaves behind 3 young daughters just over a year old.

Due to conflicts in the family I had not spoken with my brother since 1997. I am now beating myself up wondering if I had made that first move, would he still be alive. If it was suicide... if I had been there for him... maybe...

He was my baby brother, just 18 months younger than I am. I will never again see him smile. I will never again hear him laugh. We had our problems, but he was still my brother.

Please... if you are estranged from anyone in your family and can mend those wounds, please, I beg of you, do all you can to do so. My regrets will haunt me the rest of my life.