I met him when I was in grade school. He was a new face on the bus I rode every day. I grew up in a rural area, there weren't many kids there. We became fast friends. We stayed good friends. We went through middle school, junior high, and high school. I graduated a year after his brother, and he graduated a year after me. I was only a year older than him. He was 24.

I remember, at one point, I spent so much time at his house, it became my second home. His mom considered me one of her sons. He was a brother to me. She passed away last year.

We went to the same community college. He became a CNA. I graduated and moved away. He became a father. Even though he didn't ask for the kid, nor was he sure that the kid was even his, he took care of him. He was a great guy.

We disconnected when I moved away. This is one of my greatest regrets.

I can't hold back my tears. I can't keep my mind straight or my breathing steady.

Today, he was involved in an unfortunate accident, and didn't survive. He was 24. A year younger than I am. I grew up with him. He was a brother to me.

He's gone. He won't be back. I won't get to party with him again. I won't get to laugh with him again. There won't be any more nights crashing on his couch when it's too late to go home. I won't get to say I'm sorry for losing contact.

We're not invincible. The people we love can be taken away from us at any moment. Tell the people you love that you love them. Don't let them slip away.