June the Ninth
Jun. 9th, 2006 08:22 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
llywelaSeven years.
Seven years ago today, my cousin Paul phoned his girlfriend to say he was on his way over, and never arrived. Seven years ago today he got on his bicycle and headed out to her place, and was hit by a car from behind, killed instantly. He was 26 years old.
The driver was convicted of causing death by negligent driving, given a suspended sentence because my uncle and aunt pleaded for leniency. They said sending her to prison wouldn't bring him back, and they were right, but I wonder if I could have been as forgiving in their shoes. They've never been the same since, and neither have any of their three daughters, my cousins. Just one death can have such a devastating effect on so many people.
June the ninth, 1999, and it was a bright, sunny day, just like today. It always is, every year. I even know what I was doing at the exact moment it happened. Just before 8pm, still broad daylight: I was just seeing the engineer out who'd come to fix our boiler, and then I sat and chatted with my Italian housemate Eva for the rest of the evening. Had no idea that just a few miles away my cousin was dying at that very moment.
Seven years. It's funny how you always remember the day, without ever intending to. It's just a day, like any other. And then you wake up and remember that no, it isn't just a day like any other. This was the day it happened.
God speed, Paul, and rest in peace. We miss you.
Seven years ago today, my cousin Paul phoned his girlfriend to say he was on his way over, and never arrived. Seven years ago today he got on his bicycle and headed out to her place, and was hit by a car from behind, killed instantly. He was 26 years old.
The driver was convicted of causing death by negligent driving, given a suspended sentence because my uncle and aunt pleaded for leniency. They said sending her to prison wouldn't bring him back, and they were right, but I wonder if I could have been as forgiving in their shoes. They've never been the same since, and neither have any of their three daughters, my cousins. Just one death can have such a devastating effect on so many people.
June the ninth, 1999, and it was a bright, sunny day, just like today. It always is, every year. I even know what I was doing at the exact moment it happened. Just before 8pm, still broad daylight: I was just seeing the engineer out who'd come to fix our boiler, and then I sat and chatted with my Italian housemate Eva for the rest of the evening. Had no idea that just a few miles away my cousin was dying at that very moment.
Seven years. It's funny how you always remember the day, without ever intending to. It's just a day, like any other. And then you wake up and remember that no, it isn't just a day like any other. This was the day it happened.
God speed, Paul, and rest in peace. We miss you.
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Date: 2006-06-09 07:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-09 07:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-09 08:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-06-09 12:18 pm (UTC)Peace on his soul. and ours.
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Date: 2006-06-09 01:46 pm (UTC)*sending my love*
xx
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Date: 2006-06-09 02:09 pm (UTC)I've warned my family that I intend to come back as a hummingbird, in or out of season, and thusly be able to check up on how everyone is doing, let them know I still love them, and then ZZZIZZZ away to visit other family flowers.
Sorrow is for those left behind, to my way of thinking ~ I fully intend to be out sliding down rainbows, visiting all the galaxies, giving unsuspecting Muggles and Wizards smooches from under my 'cloak of invisibility', and playing silly-bugger games. Hugs....
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Date: 2006-06-09 02:43 pm (UTC)Nice to picture the gone having fun in their afterlife, at least.
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Date: 2006-06-09 02:32 pm (UTC)Many years ago a co-worker was killed as an innocent bystander in a high speed police chase - I'll never forget the horrible moment the coroner came to the office and told me and this co-worker's assistant she was gone.
:::hugsagain:::
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Date: 2006-06-09 02:42 pm (UTC)