One day during my junior year of high school, my friend, 17, died in a car crash in front of Bishop Carroll High School. It occurred during lunch when juniors and seniors were allowed to leave the school. There were two other people in the car when it happened – his elementary-school best friend that was driving the car and his girlfriend of four years. He was in the passenger seat when a car started to turn into Bishop Carroll. The drivers weren’t able to react quickly enough. There was only one fatality.
I sat with the loss for a while, but I don’t think I ever fully understood. I went to his balloon-release memorial, his celebration of life, his burial, but it was still scary not knowing what would come next. I think about it every once in a while, but I haven’t found any answers.
A couple of months ago, there was a 12-year-old girl hit by a car near my house. I see the roadside memorial every time I am on my way home. Each time I pass it, I am reminded of my friend, who was just a few years older than her. I am reminded of the grief of losing someone so suddenly, so close to you. I can’t imagine the grief that anybody’s family would feel at the news…