For my best friend’s cousin on his funeral day

Some find meaning in the deepest pits

Some find God and religion

Some find peace or absolution

But all you had was a gun.

Many have hopes for the future

A dream to be realized

A goal to reach

They find ways to deal with failure

You could only find a gun.

I’m assuming, of course.

It may have been an accident,

Or pure happenstance,

That what happened happened?

But in the end, you still had the gun.

Of all the things people wish,

How your family wished,

Hoped,

And all they wanted,

Was for you to not find the gun.

A week ago, my best friend’s cousin on his Father’s side killed himself. I have never met him or known him, but rest in peace, friend.