Zack

Remember that day
Back in the fall of '01?
I ran down that hill
Ready for my first
Soccer practice,
Not knowing anything
About the game.
And there you were
In the goal knowing
Everything possible.

No wonder you
Had that look
On you face when
The coach paired us up
To run drills together.
But I think it shocked
You when I caught
On quick and ended up
Doing the drills better.

Maybe that's why
You didn't speak to me
That night. It was the
Next practice when
You let me know
Your unforgettable name.

And almost as quick as I
Caught on the drills we became...
     ... best friends...

Countless hours of board games,
Hundreds of sandcastles,
Days spent hanging on monkey bars,
Many sleepovers and campouts,
Years of soccer games together,
Sharing our first rollercoaster ride (ever!)

Soon to follow was our...
    ... love affair ...

Sunset walks at the beach,
Summer nights by the lake,
Countless hours teaching me
To skateboard down by the park

Where at 12 were shared our...
      ... first kiss ...

Many more "firsts" we did share
But it was one of our "lasts" that...
    ... changed me forever...

My phone rang; it was you.
You were crying, talking about ending it,
Just giving up, said you had
The rope in your hands right now.
I talked and talked, trying to stop you.

Then I heard the chair fall.
I screamed, "NOOO!" your phone hit
The floor and the line went dead
As my heart dropped; tears fell
Like the first spring rain
When winter had just said...
     ... goodbye ...

Flash forward to today.
I'm standing here at your
Grave crying, wishing you
A happy 16 birthday.