The Boy Who Once Lived

I needed to get my feelings down before I exploded.

The boy who always had a smile on his face and a silly comment to speak.

The boy who grew up laughing and never could be defined as "meek".

He was loved and gushed over, the youngest boy of three

and a sports fanatic too, the NY Mets were his cup of tea.

But in 2013 tragedy struck the boy's family.

His father passed away oh so very suddenly.

He, his mother and 2 brothers were very very crushed.

But the boy's smile never left his face, for onward he pushed.

The boy knew how to find happiness, and learned the secret of life:

Smiling makes you and others around you smile and ends all the strife.

So he found new hobbies and interests to keep himself busy,

for he was not going to end his young life, or get himself into a tizzy.

The boy learned a new love for theatre, and joined his school's stage crew,

there he made many new friends, friends that would remain true.

Although this boy never needed new friends for he already had a ton

For who wouldn't befriend a boy who always laughed and knew how to have fun?

On the hot Summer day of July 14th, the boy rose from bed with more smiles.

He had his driving instruction class and was excited for he'd been waiting for a while.

He was taking Summer classes to be able to get his license by the new school year,

And his family all knew that he would, and he was a good driver so they had no fear.

The boy arrived for the course and sat through the lesson,

then...  finally! It was over... time to get in the car ! What a blessin'!

He piled in the car with the teacher and other kids ,

and off they want with hardly any tire skids!

The boy was in the back having silly conversation with 2 other boys,

and a girl was at the wheel, soon to learn that the vehicle was not a toy.

Solid words turned into background reverbs as the moment became real,

the girl was unclear about how to drive at a blinking red light, quite a big deal.

She stopped at the light and all was well and good,

then the next moment she pulled into the intersection, and completely changed the mood.

An 18-wheeler was charging and she didn't have the time,

and the next moment was impact but not at all a crime.

The truck driver swore he had the right-of-way with such little remorse.

But what he didn't realize was he had slipped a note under death's door.

Death came into that car and took the boy's life. He also took the 2 other boys as well

The girl and the instructor survived, and are here today for this story to tell.

I received the phone call to hear of the boy's demise,

and dropped the phone quite fast and all you could hear is my cries.

The boy was my family friend, and like my little brother.

The boy was only sixteen and left another hardship for his mother.

I want to share this story and want the world to know,

that the boy's name was Paul and his face I'd like to show. 

Yup, that is him being silly, surprise, surprise.

I took this backstage during musical season during one of his highs.

His highs were when he was happiest, giddy, laughing and childish,

Most people couldn't handle his enthusiasm but to be able to see it again? I wish.

I look at this picture now and receive chills up my spine.

To see his hands when they were alive and fine.

Because now I can't get this image out of my head, the image from his wake..

The image of pale, pruney hands that look rather fake.

To see a face so serious and still,

to see a face on him that he'd never make gives me another chill.

To see him with his karate black belt tucked in next to his arm.

An achievement he will never again brag about or gloat about with his charm.

I once had remorse for the girl that caused this, imagining that she is in immense pain

but now I see her with her friends and in pictures smiling and grow livid with disdain.

To be smiling 2 weeks after you took my friend's life and out and about,

to be enjoying things that he will never experience makes me want to shout.

But then I realize she is living much like Paul,

She is dealing with the pain through smiles, experiences, and standing tall.

I know now that what happened, happened and we can't go back now

So I just pray for her and that her inner-demons won't eat her alive, somehow.

But at this moment my heart just aches.

It aches for the boy who made no mistakes.

Ironic though, that a mistake is what took his life away,

and if I could change it Paul, I'd switch places so you could stay.

Author's Note

Just my feelings and everything I've collected since he passed about a month ago. No constructive criticism needed, that's not what this is here for.

Reviews

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Fantastic writing. Keep it up.