I may not have been there
But I can still hear the gunshot ringing throughout the neighborhood
Slicing through the silence of the night
Echoing off the houses where others are fast asleep
Your friends
Your family
            Your children
Unaware that you have left this world, they continue sleeping peacefully
By some miracle your children sleep through the police sirens
And the hysterical crying of a wife becoming a widow
Dreaming peacefully for the last time
Because your departure from this world will always haunt them
Your ghost will stand next to your daughter
As she parades herself down the aisle into the arms of a new man
A man I pray to God is strong enough to hold her
On nights when she needs a man’s support
Because her father is no longer there
Your son’s massive shadow will always remind him of you
A darkness that will never leave his side
Even when he’s surrounded by light
You spent billions of seconds loving your life
Cherishing it
Protecting it
But it only took one second to end it
And as much as I want to hate you for causing them this pain
As much as I want to take my small fragile fists
And try to pound some sense into your head
As much as I wish I could turn back time and rewind that night
Stop you from leaving the house to drive around at 3 am
Only to end up right back in your driveway
To do what you knew you wanted to do before you even left
             I can’t.
All I have the power to do is to forgive you and move on
Try to piece together the pieces you shattered
When you pulled the trigger
              So I forgive you.