It seems so unreal - like a dark haze engulfing all parts of you - eating you alive.
That dreadful call at 2 AM... Your heart sinks as you hear the news.
You freeze, you want to wake up from this nightmare and have this all be a farse.
But this is real. This isn't supposed to happen.
I swear this is a nightmare, let this be false.
God, let this be false.
The yearning for someone to wake me up before this nightmare continues has never been so strong.
The phone slides from my hand as I drop to my knees and wail.
Where is a comforting soul when one is needed most?
As I get my keys, forgetting to put my coat on, I drive to the hospital.
Bawling my eyes out and screaming at the top of my lungs, I feel as if I'm alone, even though surrounded by people.
I pull against the curb, lights off - not ready to face what I'm about to hear and see. Would you?
Five minutes away from home... so close, but never made it.
Now lying in a cold sleep, never waking... Only 19, no older.
Maybe it was his time?
Or maybe they've mistaken his identity... but I guess they haven't.
I cannot go in; I'm frozen standing in the hallway.
All the voices are muffled and someone taps me on the shoulder.
"Are you ok?" - I return a blank stare.
This is a worst nightmare come true.
This is reality, not a farse... far from it.
It seems so fake.
It happened so fast.
Life is so precious, but never taken seriously by many.
You chose to have fun that night.
You chose your demise unknowingly.
As soon as you got in that car, you were done for.
You should've known, I taught you better.
But now you're gone - gone forever.
He used to stand 5'11" off the earth, but is now 6' below.
May you never be forgotten.
(In memory of Franco Lombardi Jr.)
