A letter to David

Preface: I contemplated putting this on my friend's facebook wall but decided I would rather do it here. Just a bit of background first, though. I met David in the Fall of 2007 in my first year of college. We were both Malleteers and hung out quite a bit. David was in his second year of college, even though he was only 13 days older than me. He had graduated from high school early. David was a Marine. And I say it that way because it would be an understatement if I said "He was in the Marines." Anyways, on March 11, 2008, he was on a bus heading back from some training in Florida. This bus flipped and he was the only one of 23 Marines to die from said crash. I find myself thinking about him quite often.

Dear David,

I really don't even have anything planned out to say tonight. I just had you on my mind. I guess sometimes you just slip into my consciousness for the hell of it, just to fuck with me. Haha. You were a good guy. I'll never forget the morning you took care of me after I got too drunk. That one day will stick in my mind as the prime example of your true character. Yeah, there were things you did that got on my nerves, but everyone does stuff that gets on someone else's nerves. I guess I just want you to know that I never got to tell you how much I truly loved you. I'm not talking gay-love, you asshole! But the kind that everyone wishes they could express when it's too late to express it. You were a great guy. I will NEVER forget you. I'm gonna make it up to Madison soon to visit you. I hope you have found the peace you need. I miss you man. I really do. You had too much ahead of you and I'm still pissed you were taken from us. I know there is nothing I can do and that being angry won't help anything, but it still hurts. I guess I'll go now. I miss you a lot, my friend, and I honestly do love you.

Semper Fidelis,

Coley