Column: A letter

Learning through loss to speak up and love others

Lily Hager, Section editor • March 22, 2018

To my friend whom I barely knew,

I didn’t realize I cared about you.

I didn’t even realize I knew your name.

Until I read it, the word “prayer,” and “suicide” in one sentence.

I remember you rode my bus last year. You had a lot of energy. You seemed popular. You loved to scream, to laugh, and even to aggravate. You reminded me of my Italian family in that way. But I don’t ride the bus anymore. I don’t see you anymore.

So I thought of you when I happened to drive by as the woman who found you screamed at men in badges. Some of them ran from their police cars toward her. Some unloaded a stretcher. She jumped and waved them into the backyard as if she was watching them in slow motion. She wanted them to come faster. To save you. I saw her face as she cried for you.

She loved you so much.

When I heard you were gone, I could not believe it was you. How could you be gone? Would I ever see you hop from seat to seat on the bus again? I know you couldn’t sit still. Would I ever hear your voice again, no matter how loud you screamed? I know we asked you to quiet down, but I would give all I have to know your family could hear your voice again.

As I cry tears of sorrow mourning for your lost life, and I reach for a pillow, anything, for comfort, I am wishing I could hold you instead, and I am wishing you could hear my muffled words, “I love you.” I couldn’t understand that you believed the lie that nobody cared for you.

I wish I told you that you were young, and that you had everything going for you, and that there are so many people who wanted to help you. That I could help you find someone.

The awkward look you would probably return to me seems more like a blessing I missed out on than any obstacle it posed to me.

I wish I sat next to you on the bus and asked how your day was. Maybe you would say “good” every day for 364 days, but maybe on the 365th day you would tell me what you were really struggling with.

Maybe when you thought you were alone, I could have been one more person to you who made sure you weren’t.

I have no idea what you have been through. What were you thinking that you couldn’t bear? I can never understand.

But my heart breaks trying.

So to my peers,

It doesn’t have to be over for you. Know that my heart reaches out to each and every one of you, and I have no words to express the love you each receive.

The fact that there is almost nothing I can tell you now that will save some of you is such a heavy burden on my heart, but the chance that I could help just one of you is the reason I will not hold back now.

I know I must love freely now and bury any shame, branding it as insignificant in order to fight for your life.

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About the Contributors

Lily Hager, Editor-In-Chief

With the coming of her fourth and final year of high school, Lily Hager eagerly awaits the senior perks that accompany all who suffer from “senioritis”–including off periods, senior overalls and dual credit. Her freshman, sophomore and junior years were occupied by marching band, newspaper, several AP classes and leadership positions (including being drum major of the band and editor in chief of The Red Ledger junior year). Hager thrives any day that involves journaling, bible studies, time spent with friends or family, and ice cream. Her time at home is largely spent in her room, which she so carefully designed for the past several years into a safe haven. She fills her (rare) free time by cleaning, writing, reading, planning or talking (whether that be to her parents, her friends or her pet bunny, Boots). Despite her burning excitement for college at A&M, she is committed to enjoying her last year as an editor, conducting her last show, and living her last year in her childhood home. Last, but not least, she is certain to take advantage of one last year of writing, editing, and loving TRL.

Parker Nolan, Section Editor

Senior Parker Nolan joined The Red Ledger in ninth grade and is now the paper’s Multimedia Editor. His hobbies include making music, photography, and borderline dangerous escapades (some consider him an adrenaline junkie). Parker is currently dual enrolled at Collin College for Emergency Medical Services education to become an EMT. His favorite movie is “The Italian Job,” and his favorite genres of music are alternative rock and rap. "Be the change you want to see in the world,” a quote from Mahatma Gandhi, is a phrase that Parker tries to live his life by. In his spare time, Parker enjoys working out, hanging with friends, and exploding fireworks. Parker can be described as sometimes chill, sometimes adrenaline filled, and a little too confident in his abilities.