I couldn't help you

Your darkest days were unknown to me - unknown to everyone, even your closest friends.

Just one chance to go back and change what lay ahead. Your pain, sadness, frustration, and everything else that could have added to your final thoughts. Alone I couldn’t help you but maybe we could have helped you. I wish I had the calming words to say or a sense to tell me something wasn’t right. I write a blog about mental health and I can’t even touch this subject knowing that I couldn’t help. Your smile was so effective and we all fell for it. The smile was your mask and we couldn’t see past it. We couldn’t unveil the truth.  We were all fooled; fooled for believing it couldn’t happen to you, it can happen to anyone one of us. Fooled by what society has taught us - that a smile is enough to believe everything is fine. We are institutionalized by this. 

Ryan (respectfully E-1, US Navy), you are missed dearly.

Rest Easy My Friend.