Ricochet
Before my departure, I picked up a telephone call, only to hear the sobs of someone I have known for nearly thirty years. My dearest friend’s fragmented words collided with my own past loss as she uttered the unimaginable… “Yesterday, my 22 year old nephew was killed in a car accident!” This prompted a surge of my own emotions as I could barely mutter a reply, “I’m so sorry…” my shaky voice trailed off. Only days before, we had spoke of our impending visit after a long break of not seeing one another, in the past 5 years. Our plans had shifted in an instant from celebrating our reunion… to the heartbreak of my friend in losing her beloved nephew. Once I arrived, my arms wrapped around someone who was there for me, when my own 21 year old daughter died in a car crash. I knew the weeks ahead would be a challenge; however I could not fathom what it was like to be on the other side. While I could not alter the ci...