Sometimes we underestimate the power of surprises occurring in our lives. This jumpstart adds an extra kick to your adrenaline that prepares you for the worst. This somehow keeps us on edge about choices we make in our lives. I have had my own jumpstart that has changed who I am as a person. I won’t ever be the same.
I still remember the cold night on the 26th of February last year. I sat at home doing some homework, when I felt a cold breeze inside my house. This cold breeze was something I hadn’t ever felt before, and I knew something had to be wrong. That was the moment that I received devastating news that my nephew Chris had been murdered.
I won’t ever forget the feeling in the bottom of my stomach. How could Chris, an 18-year-old high school senior with straight A’s, be dead? I remember thinking that this couldn’t be happening to my family. I couldn’t describe the despair that I felt. I couldn’t find understanding of why someone would want to hurt such an innocent spirit.
My nephew Chris was a very happy and rambunctious child who had many dreams growing up. During his short 18 years here on Earth, he played football at Washington High School in South Bend, Ind. and attended college preparatory classes through the Upward Bound program at the University of Notre Dame. Chris was planning to attend college with numerous schools to choose from, until his life was cut short.
This happens every day to other families everywhere. My heart goes out to those families trying to put together the pieces of their lives after something so tragic. After dealing with this myself, I know it’s not easy to move on from such a loss.
I just want to let people know that there is more to one life ending. The more energy you put towards their memory, the stronger you become. We need to show others that darkness only lasts at night and joy always comes in the morning.
I’m urging everyone to find support and begin doing something productive to prevent us from having to keep burying our children. We have control over the epidemic that’s plaguing our children and our communities. We can do more by raising awareness about this problem instead of thinking it won’t happen to us.
Though life will never be the same without Chris, that cold breeze has kept me awake. That shiver I felt has been with me since that cold night, and I won’t ever underestimate the element of surprise because life can change in an instant.
Ciera Simril is a former St. Louis American intern.
