R.I.P. Mom

By C. Grell

The text came early on the morning of Monday, May 18, 2020, “Miss, I have some sad news. My mother died last night, she hung herself”. A teenager conveying this to his teacher during the coronavirus lockdown. The news has been kept out of the media for the privacy of her children.

We don’t know the reason behind the suicide but the little we have come to learn of her actions before her death. For months she spent most of her time in isolation.

After a death in her family about a month and a half ago, she grieved alone. With half the world going crazy with COVID-19, and everyone busy with their own lives, no one paid attention. But something pushed her to the edge that evening. She looked sunken like the life was sucked out of her. She was found later that night, but it was too late.

During this time where people are isolated, it is so important to be kind, to be diligent, and present in the lives of our friends and family. We may never know what caused her to take her own life, but her family now looks for answers as they examine her social media accounts, emails, and phone records.

We are saddened to learn of her untimely death, and we pray her family finds peace.

May her soul rest in peace.