It pains me to begin this on such a tragic note, but I feel a proper tribute must be paid.
Death is an inevitable part of life. We are born, we reach our peak, and then we fade away. It is accepted that children will bury their parents, that death is merely a product of old age. As young people, we are invincible, right? We are immune.
If only that were true.
On a clear October night, cars collided. A college student was killed instantly. His parents were forced to bury their beloved son instead. A boy had to say goodbye to his big brother and his best friend. Why? My mind is still reeling. Why must fate be so cruel?
This young man's name was Rahul. I cannot even begin to capture his true essence, and I leave that to those who were lucky enough to call him a friend. But I will try to describe him. Smart, with a great sense of humor, and a heart of gold. His mere presence brought a sense of warmth and joy. He had his whole life ahead of him, and he was eager to make the best of it. No one was immune to his charm and kindness. A beloved son, brother, and friend.
I wish I had been close to him. I wish I had been able to really get to know the real Rahul. Now I can only sit and listen with wonder to those who knew him best. I consider myself lucky, however, to call his younger brother my friend. Rahul was everything to Sunny: friend, brother, role model. They are so similar. Sunny has the same... well, "sunny" disposition that his brother possessed. He is wise, kind, and is always there for those he loves. I am so glad to have spent JSA conventions with him, and I cherish those memories. I do not think he realizes, but he has been a real comfort to me. His hugs in the crowded high school hallways bring relief when I'm feeling stressed. And for Sunny to have such respect, admiration, and love for his brother, well, his brother must have been pretty damn special. His strength in this face of all of this is inspirational to me.
This tragedy has made me look at my relationship with my own brother. I can't say we're all that close. We argue over trivial issues when he comes home from college. We don't spend that much time when he is here. But the thought of losing him is unbearable. I called him the other night because I could not sleep. His voice was cheery over the phone line. The tears came. "I love you so much. I just need you to know that. If anything ever happened to you, I don't know what I'd do. I love you. I love you. I love you."
Sometimes the world is flipped upside-down. Death comes too soon. The cycle, young burying old, is broken. As cliche as it may be, we all must live as if this is our final moment. We must love without restraint, and we must learn to forgive. Relationships must be nurtured, or they will wither and die.
Do not wait. This may be your last chance.
