My brother tried to kill me when i was 7. He wasn’t arrested. He’s still here. Idk what to do about it, but i remember that day. we were in the kitchen, and he told me to follow him. (we were home alone). he was 13, and couldn’t drive, but my parents were out together, and he somehow got the keys in the other car. he told me to get in, and he drove. he took me to an alley, but i secretly got back in and stayed quiet. before my parents got home, i was sitting outside so he couldn’t see me. he had told me, “You were supposed to be dead, die!”

My parents split up in August of 2018. I was so mad at him for everything he did to me and my family, including my mom. He chose hard drugs, and to cheat on my mom with her childhood bestfriend. I texted him once in a while, because I was 15 and I wanted to make sure my dad knew I didn’t hate him. Then I cut off contact with him after seeing him again in December and hugging him for the last time. I was never able to see him. In March 2021, (my room was right beside the front door) I took a nap at 6pm and woke up at 8pm, to the front door being opened and my mom talking at the door, my grandma was crying and my siblings were upstairs. I was so confused and my grandma comforted me while crying, I asked her if my dad was dead. She said “yes my girl.. he killed himself..” I was in shock at first and I let out the most blood curdling cry. I regret not talking to him. I believe that it’s my fault he’s dead, because I didn’t talk to him. I have the last message he sent to me, and I read it almost every day. I wish I could have done something to save him. Maybe I could have stopped him.

• August 5, 2023