there are no words

as many of you know, or perhaps didn't, i worked for a time with runaway, homeless and at-risk youth before i retired from human services. when i took over my 3 counties out of a 6 county program, we had had maybe 20 kids. by the time i left 2+ years later, we had helped at least 100. there are some kids who stick with you- some who leave an indelible mark on your soul. joe was one of them. he called our hotline and my partner went and picked him up from a tiny hamlet near here where he had been staying with people he barely knew. he had no family to speak of- and couldn't live at home- he had been kicked out. joe was a person. he was smart and funny and he wanted to be someone. he had had to drop out of school but wanted a high school diploma- of that he was sure. joe decided he would go back to high school- although he was behind- and he would finish. and--- he did. joe graduated in 2005 with his high school diploma. joe was 21 years old when he died. i don't know anything- the police are just starting the investigation. all i know is- my heart is sad. sad for a young man who made friends easily and was well liked by all because he was a decent human being. there are not words. rest joe. and know that someone will miss you.