The Day Heaven Gained an Angel

I remember this day so clearly. I was sleeping when my brother Anthony came running in saying "Richard was dead". I was mad, yelling at him that wasn't funny and to get out of my room. That's when I saw the tears roll down his face. He told me my mom was on the phone crying. I ran out there. And asked "Is it true" and she nodded her head. I ran into my room and started crying. I couldn't believe it, It doesn't seem possible. We take so much for granted in life! I picked up the phone and called Richard's best friend Zach and gave him the news. He said I was lying, oh how I wish I were. I then proceeded to call my best friends JJay, Missy & Suzie. After giving them the news and hanging up I got on AOL. Because I knew Richard had a friend on there that lived down the road from him. So I got on and gave Evan the news. He was just as shocked as I was, being that Richard was at his house the night before (or so). *I saw Richard 3-4 day's before his death* Sometimes I sorta blame myself in this event. Because the night it happened I was on the phone with Richard. He wanted to know we were gonna do anything for the 4th of July. I told him probably not. He was like "Oh tell Aunt Michelle (my mom) to bring you guys down to Flagler because my dad is taking me there". I told him I'd have to check with her. And then he wanted me to help him set up his Hotmail account. His email was [email protected] sent him an email but he never got it. He then wanted to talk to Anthony but Anthony didn't feel like getting the other phone (b/c this one was going dead) So after it went dead and cut Richard off he went and took his bath. If I would of stayed on the phone maybe it woulda be been to late for him to shower?? Who knows! Maybe it's all my fault. I just hope & pray that he didn't suffer. Because as you see Richard was found the next morning in the tub. The details are sketchy but from what we read in the police reports his stepmother Mary knocked on the bathroom door every 2 hours or so after he got in. She said when he didn't answer it didn't seem to bother her. Now if your child is in the bathtub from 10pm--8am why wouldn't you check on them? Oddly enough they said they found a crack smoking device behind the toliet (there's no way it could of been Richard's.) Everything is still confusing, We don�t know to much. My aunt was thinking of having Richard brought back up to have the case reopened. But she never went through with it. The day of the funeral (which was July 10th, 2001). I remember walking into that funeral home thinking I could go through the day without crying. Was I wrong. As soon as I saw Richard lying there I lost it. I did walk up to the casket but it wasn�t my cousin I saw, his hair was brushed straight back and he didn�t look the same. I wanted to run out and get my brush so I could comb it to the sides like he always wore it. That�s what he was known for. He did his hair like that for as long as I can remember. I wanted to give him a kiss but I never did and I regret that to this day. Seeing a picture of Richard still makes me break down in tears. Because my cousin is gone, and he�s never coming back. And there�s nothing I nor anyone else can do about it. I would do anything in a heartbeat to bring my cousin back. I like to think of it as him away at camp. Because he would often go with the Boy Scouts on camping trips. He loved those. We would take camping trips about once a year with my Aunt Lynne. The last place we went was Jonathen Dickerson National Park. I think that�s how you spell it? Well that was the last trip we ever went on. I doubt we�ll ever go on a camping trip as a family again, because it wouldn�t feel right without Richard there. I�ve promised myself that when I have a son I would name him after Richard. And that me and my family would go camping to all the places I did as a kid. Some of them consisting of The Keys, Jellystone National Park, J.D, and Colby Woods. I just hope where ever Richard is he�s looking down on us and watching us from time to time.