A father buckling to his knees
A mother who is rendered mute
A grandfather, stoic, holding his wife and daughter
A grandmother memorializing her granddaughter in words
A father wearing his son’s sneakers to testify
A mother collecting sea glass in jars
A brother traveling the world to share
A sister riding her bike to remember
A father not walking his daughter up the aisle
A mother encouraging young men to achieve
A cousin standing up as maid of honor
An aunt speaking for her sister
A young man who sang of love but died before he lived it
A young girl in a casket with unscathed hands
A teacher who gave his life for his students
An officer whose nightmares paralyze him
A survivor who relays her story
A survivor who tries to forget
A survivor who is paralyzed
A survivor who is traumatized
A line snaking around a church on a hot summer day
A community that bears cookies and cakes
An empty chair at the holiday table
A room packed with origami and well wishes
A small blurb in the back of the Metro section
A boy mistaken for a thief
A child caught in the crosshairs
Another body left in the street
A friend who sings “I Never Got to Say Good-bye”
A friend/parent/sibling who wants to die
But they can’t
So they paint, dance, sing, and act
Protest, march, gather and speak
So the world remembers those who were lost
Those who died, and
Those who survived
Thanks for sharing. So very true. Very tragic events
Thank you, yes. My heart to you.