Where does one begin to justify the death of a 16 year old ? My nephew, Ryan, was killed in a one car accident as a backseat passenger. No alcohol nor drugs were involved...just too fast on a country road and in a flash....he's gone. As if that weren't hard enough to handle...it was his father's (my brother Mike's) birthday. Where do you begin to justify that? Do you...can you blame God? Do you blame the driver...a 19 year old kid himself...yes KID....the front seat passenger is in critical condition. She has lots of broken bones...and bone fragments in her lungs...Do you blame her ? Was she distracting the driver? Were they just 3 kids laughing and having fun and all of the above is to blame? or Is there even a need for blame? Do I accept the fact that no matter who is to blame or even what the hell happened...Ryan is gone and nothing is going to bring him back. He would have turned 17 next month...looking forward to playing basketball and just beginning to enjoy his teen years and a new year in school. ONE MOMENT....ONE LOUSY MOMENT of either not paying attention...ONE MOMENT to realize how fast you are going and to back off...ONE MOMENT to have decided that one day, his Dad's birthday to just stay home and not have gotten into the car ????
I pray...that when they told our family, Ryan did not suffer, and died instantly...that he did indeed. He is not laying in a hospital bed...in a coma...broken beyond all hope and recognition but legally alive. My only saving grace is that he is at peace with our family members who went before him. That his parents and siblings find peace to accept this tragedy and remember all the wonderful time they spent with Ry-Guy.
He was an easy going, well liked, kid.....one you could easily smile with. Loveable lil guy while growing up and I never ...not once...heard him be disrespectful or hear an angry word from him...always that grin and Hello Aunt Laura...with a hug. Teenagers get a bad rap sometimes....Ryan was one of the good ones.
