Loss

When I thought about what I would write this weekend, several ideas were running through my head, but none of them are close to what I'm actually going to write about.

At 3:30 yesterday, I was walking down to the office because I needed something from my box before I left for the weekend.  My AP stopped me and had me look at two pictures.  With only a little knowledge of the Park Jefferson story I saw on my Facebook feed and his words that included pool, I turned away and said no.  My heart knew even if my mind was struggling.  I fell to the floor and sobbed and felt a pain that I'm not sure I can describe.

I love Keyontae and Jeanie.  I had Keyontae when he was in 9th grade; he was an old man stuck in a 15 year old's body.  He even had a full mustache to go with it.  Kind, funny, supportive, and honest.  He declared me his godmom and so began the great journey of knowing Keyontae.  Every morning he would stop by to say hello and check on me throughout his high school career.  Rarely would he come without Jeanie.  She wasn't just his girlfriend; she was his best friend.  They had loved each other since middle school, and when you looked at those two, you just knew God loved them together.  They defied conventional wisdom and opinions about teenage love and were an example of how opposites not only attract but bring out the best in each other.

When Keyontae moved away for a brief time, Jeanie would give me regular updates, as would Keyontae.  He wanted to make sure he stayed in touch and that I didn't forget about him.  How could I?  He finished out his high school career last year, which is a testimony to him.  Keyontae didn't excel academically, and he always knew that college wasn't going to be for him.  However, he knew the value of a high school diploma and often told me that school was the only job kids grew up knowing how to do.

I was lucky enough to run into both of them the night of Midwinter.  I stopped into Bendix and saw his face in the window.  It was serendipitous.  Now, I see that God's hands were all over that.  He sat with me for close to 25 minutes filling me on his life, asking me about mine, and offering reflections on the future.  Jeanie joined us for a bit before they both left, and I remember thinking how much they loved each other.  That might be the only thing that gives me some kind peace with losing them both.

May they both rest in peace with God.