By Jennifer Kramzer

The summer of 2007
I read the twelve steps to sobriety.
My brother died at 27 years of age.
The way that my family’s life has changed
Since that sad day July 16th.
It was the morning of the tragic day,
I heard it on the radio but they gave no names.
My heart sank for that family’s pain.
I didn’t know that it would be my own.
As I sat in the front room of my parents home,
My mom seemed bothered but she was uncertain why
She had a intuition that day.
The house telephone rang
It was her good friend Sis, to tell us about a wreck
That had happened with my ex.
Then and there, we knew what to expect.
Five minutes later, a man of law drove up the driveway,
We knew it had been my brother in that car.
He came to us in such a voice
And asked us for pictures for him to confirm.
My mother dropped to her knees
As we heard the worst.
That was the coldest moment of our lives.
I called my father as he was at work
To explain what had happened and he needed to come home.
Family and friends all gathered close
We have much love to keep us together
We needed this love
As he had a daughter.
The ladies of family and friends
Gathered around to give her the news.
A single tear rolled down her cheek
As everyone else hurt for her deep.
Her daddy is not there anymore
For the five year old girl.
The days went by
By a big blur.
My family was not complete,
Not anymore.
The anger, the rage, the sad,
In my head, the wonders of why,
I cannot forget.
He is not forgotten
We can never forget.
He is still my brother, and
Definitely a friend.