I Heard About You

I was shopping the other day when I ran in to my aunt's granddaughter, Christina. We hugged, talked for a few minutes, and then, naturally, I asked about my aunt. I had sent her several cards and left her a couple of voice mails, but hadn't heard back in awhile. We both lead busy lives, so I wasn't overly concerned.

Christina's reply was that she was doing okay under the circumstances. I said, "Circumstances? What circumstances?"


Turns out, my aunt's best friend, Chris, killed himself the day before Mother's Day. I just couldn't wrap my brain around it.

I've been to see my aunt twice since then. She's coping, and she's surviving, but she's hurting. Because I am so close to my aunt, I had spent quite a bit of time with Chris as well. Needless to say, I too, am reeling from the shock. It was so unnecessary.

I decided to write to put how I'm feeling in perspective.

i heard about you

i heard about you the other day

i couldn't believe what they had to say

they knocked and knocked upon your door

like so many other times before

they found you there, two days gone

you had no reason to carry on

no one here could make you stay

those ties didn't bind much, anyway

you tried church, you tried prayer

but you found no comfort there

you lived by the pill and by them you died

who knows what else you could have tried

in your bible they found a card from me

after i'd stopped by to visit unexpectedly

such a passing thing for me to do

didn't know it meant that much to you

we can say "what if" but what does it mean?

we can't predict a future that's unforeseen

i wish i did, but chris: i didn't know

that you couldn't hold on, you had to go

i know someone who cared more than i

i'll hold her hand and let her cry

i heard about you the other day

i couldn't believe what they had to say

Written: 06/07/06