Monday, June 19, 2017

A Sad Goodby to Zach

I didn't even know Zach. All I knew is that he was the son of members of a church family to which we once belonged. Nonetheless when we learned of his death by suicide we were shocked and saddened. Our hearts ached for the parents and for Zach's brother and sister. Zach was 20 years old. So, along with a couple of hundred others, we went to the viewing. I've been to many of these visitations over the course of my 76 years, but nothing like this one. People were stunned, red eyed or bleary eyed, and silent. They made small conversation, but mostly spoke in hugs. About half of the visitors were kids looking awkward, bewildered, sad. There was no denying the grim reality of his death. There lay Zach, grey of tone, wrinkle-less, dressed in a dark suit, white shirt, and red bow tie. His thick black hair spilled over his collar, his hands were crossed. What demons within convinced him to create this sad scene?