A year ago today, my nephew Charlie, my sister Michelle’s son, died of a self-inflicted gunshot. His loss is truly a family tragedy.

Very much like both of his sisters, I had lost touch with Charlie after my sister’s death. Unlike his sisters, I was unable to re-establish contact with him before his death. It was coming, it just didn’t happen in time. I am extremely thankful Jennifer spent her life with him, and happy Katie got to meet and spend a little time with her long lost brother before he was taken from us. As sad as it is, I had dealt with losing him long before his death, but I was so optimistic we could reconnect. There simply wasn’t time.