Only 14
By Nathan Holler

Riding home from my last football game.
Last time losing a football game.
First time losing a best friend.
I wouldn't even know until the next day.
I was only 14.

That night I went to sleep, thinking the hardest was over.
Not knowing what I would learn the next day.
When they sent out the email,
My heart dropped.
I was only 14.

Two weeks later I went to church, but it was different.
Everyone was dressed in black and weeping.
That was my first time going to church on a Friday.
That same Friday was the last day I'd look at my best friend.
He was only 16.

Christmas came two months later.
I usually liked the holidays.
But this year something was missing.
This year I was missing my friend.
I was only 14.

February 12th. Just another day to most.
But I knew what it really was: His birthday.
Today was supposed to be celebrating his life.
But instead we were at his grave with flowers and balloons.
Today, he would have been 17