Then, one day last week, for no reason that anyone can fathom, she committed suicide.
There was no warning, no inkling, no clues. She was bubbly and happy, at least on the outside. She left no note. No one has any idea why.
Please, please, if you have the slightest idea someone you know might be considering such a drastic step, reach out to them. A kind word, a quiet conversation, a pat on the back ... any one of those things might have made a difference.
Now her friends and family are devastated. They will never be able to approach the Christmas season the same. Every year will be a brutal reminder of the loss of this fine young woman.
God Bless her, and all those affected by this.
And God help us all to prevent future incidents like this.
Sorry for the downer in the midst of the holiday season, but sometimes Reality intrudes...
6 comments:
I know that pain and suffering. Thank God it wasn't any of my immediate family. But three times I was the last person on Earth to see that person alive. The 1st and 3rd I had clues for their behavior was not like them. The 2nd was as you describe.
But if I may, I shall add that one should not put guilt on themselves because they noticed something off kilter but did not respond correctly. Not reading the clues propels one to think that if only they could have been more conscious, more aware, just more...then they would have been able to fend off a tragedy. The guilt is haunting and takes many years to overcome. I want to say, wanting to avoid sounding like a jerk or that I'm coldhearted, stuff happens. Life is hard, no one is always cognizant enough to read the behaviors of even their closest friends. And thinking that 'if only'...can heap guilt on the living.
In any case, as you say, vigilance is required. But more than that is being connected.
Thank you for your insight. You are absolutely right that those left behind should not feel guilty. That was one of the points stressed by the pastor during the memorial service. No one can truly know what's inside another person's mind or heart. We should honor their memory by being the best person we can be, and not beat ourselves up over 'if only.'
An ancestor committed suicide. It was the middle of the Great Depression. He had eleven children, a paid up life insurance policy, and a diagnoses of lung cancer.
A couple we knew in NM had a daughter close to our daughter's age. They played together when they were young. Anyway, the daughter committed suicide last week. No one knows why. As in the case of your young friend, all seemed well - happily married with two children. She sent out Christmas cards. Her family is devastated. It's not something I can fathom. And everyone feels guilty as if they could have should have done something differently.
Them's hard lines, buddy. God bless you and yours.
WSF - Well, at least he had his reasons...
BB - Since this happened, I've heard several similar stories. Such a shame, such a tragedy, such a waste...
JC - thank you. I appreciate it.
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