BRIAN

3 DAYS AGO I HAD A FRIEND;

NOW HE IS GONE.

I WASN'T AS CLOSE TO HIM AS SOME...

BUT HIS DEATH AFFECTED ME NONE THE LESS.

I LIVE IN A WORLD OF UNSTABILITIES (WHO DOESN'T?)

I AM OFTEN UNABLE TO ATTEND SCHOOL

BECAUSE OF SEVERE HEADACHES.

IT IS THIS PROBLEM THAT WOULD OFTEN BRING

MOMENTS OF UNCERTAINTY...

MOMENTS WHEN I WONDERED IF

I COULD MAKE IT THROUGH THE DAY.

BUT THEN BRIAN WOULD BE THERE WITH A JOKE OR A PHRASE...

A PIECE OF WISDOM THAT ALWAYS SEEMED TO CLEAR ALL THE DOUBTS AWAY.

IT WAS ONE OF THE FEW THINGS THAT I COULD COUNT ON...

OR SO I THOUGHT.

BECAUSE ONE MORNING CAME WHEN THERE WAS NO JOKE...

NO PHRASE...

NO PIECE OF WISDOM...

NO BRIAN.

AND SUDDENLY A PART OF MY WORLD WAS GONE...

NO...NOT JUST GONE...

STOLEN!!!

BRIAN WAS KILLED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT.

A DRUNK DRIVING FATALITY,

BRIAN DIED OF INJURIES TO THE HEAD, CHEST, AND ABDOMEN.

HE WAS 17 YEARS OLD.

I NEVER GOT TO SAY "THANK YOU."

I NEVER GOT TO SAY "I COULD NEVER HAVE MADE IT WITHOUT YOU."

I NEVER TOLD HIM HOW IMPORTANT HE WAS...

AND I NEVER GOT TO SAY "GOODBYE."

I KNOW I CAN'T CHANGE WHAT HAPPENED...

I KNOW I CAN'T BRING HIM BACK;

NO ONE CAN!

BUT I CAN BENEFIT FROM WHAT HE GAVE ME.

I CAN CHANGE MY LIFE.

"GOODBYE BRIAN...I'LL MISS YOU.

THANKS FOR EVERYTHING! AND

I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER...I SWEAR."

© APRIL 30, 1991 By Jason Wright

-FOR-

BRIAN ERIC GRAHAM

NOVEMBER 15TH, 1973 - APRIL 28TH, 1991