Ripples

Did you know what you were doing?

Did you know that just for a moment,

classes would halt,

teachers would choke,

students would cry

and not move on.

Did you know how the emotions would flee,

but come back to beat those that you love, over

and over

and over

Did you know that they would dance for you?

I watched them.

Silent and alone.

Moving as a tribute

Learning to accept that you

would no longer dance.

Did you know people who didn't know you would cry for you?

Cry because they were sorry you felt so alone

you made that choice

another life was gone.

Did you know how much you were loved, but you couldn't see it?

Did you know that the loved changed, but it never went

away

Did you know you could walk in the school,

And hundreds of voices would rise up telling you why

You should live.

Did you know that you were gone, but they would carry you for the rest of their lives?

Your memory

Your smile

and the biggest weight

Why?

Jeremy, did you know?

Note: On the morning January 11th, Jeremy Peterson, a former student at Mountain View High School, took his own life. He was loved by many at the school, and his friends were shocked to hear the news. Although I did not know Jeremy personally, I was touched by his actions, and felt the need to put some words down, in tribute to him. Please, no one should do this, to themselves or to others.