You Never Know

It’s always so shocking to me.

I ran into a couple of guys at a convenience store, and we commiserated about the miserable weather.

I noticed the guys were looking a little down.

“What’s up?”

They mentioned a man’s name that we all knew.

Just said his name.

“What?” I asked, not wanting to hear the answer.

“He passed away,” one of them said. “Took his own life, I guess.”

My legs went weak.

“What the f**k?” Was the only response I could come up with.

I said it three or four times.

A successful guy with a family.

Always personable.

Always well-groomed and driven and…

…what the f**k?

I thought about his wife and children. I did not know them, but I imagined their pain.

And, of course, I thought of our last conversation at the Christmas party.

All good.

Smiles, well wishes.

Yesterday, I went about my day. Had a couple of discussions with men who also knew him.

Men who’d spoken with him that morning.

“There wasn’t anything different about him. Just a regular day.”

And yet…

…what 

…the

…f**k?

So sad.

He’ll he missed.

But he wasn’t thinking about that.

You just never know what someone is going through.

And it’s heartbreaking.