There is too much hate in the world to have to stand on your own, and it’s important to remember that you do not have to do this. The world stands with you during a tragic time that you never thought would affect your life. We always see acts of hate on the news, but we never thought they would harm those that we love.
It’s surreal and heartbreaking that they were taken away from you like this, but their names will not be forgotten. Their love and spirits will live on throughout every caring heart and soul in this nation.
Someone has taken away their opportunities to impact the world even more than they already have, but we should not continue to live with fear or hatred. We cannot live with anger in our hearts and revenge on our minds. Those innocent lives that you loved so deeply can continue to be with you, just in a different way. Carry with you the spirit of who they were and what you loved about them.
We should not have to live in fear every time we want to enjoy a night out with our friends. The word “unfair” does not even begin to describe the event that impacted so many people at the same time in such a cruel way. People all over the world, not just citizens of the United States, continue to offer their condolences and hope to help in any way that they can. It is okay to accept help and lean on another person’s shoulder.
You bring strength to people everywhere who might not even be capable of imagining what you might feel. By continuing to move through life, no matter how hard it may be, you show those with evil in their hearts and minds what it means to overcome something. You show the world that those innocent people, whose lives were lost too soon, managed to impact someone who is strong and caring. Yes, that strong and caring person is you.
That person that you cared about so deeply is not just a number on a list. They are not just one of the many beautiful souls who were in harm’s way. To you, and to the rest of their family and friends, they were much more. They were human beings with complex lives and vast personalities. They experienced life just as much as they impacted it. You do not have to mourn alone. The world mourns with you and we continue to learn about something that should never have happened, and something that we pray will never happen again.
These “victims,” as they are called in the media, should not be defined by something that happened to them. We should remember them for who they once were. We should remember what they did, and how their actions changed their lives and the lives of those around them. We should remember their beautiful souls and faces. Remember their smile. Remember their laughter. Remember how they made you feel. The rest of the world will help keep their names within prayers and their faces within our minds.
Rest in peace Stanley Almodovar III, Amanda Alvear, Oscar A. Aracena-Montero, Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, Antonio Davon Brown, Darryl Roman Burt II, Angel L. Candelario-Padro, Juan Chevez-Martinez, Luis Daniel Conde, Cory James Connell, Tevin Eugene Crosby, Deonka Deidra Drayton, Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, Leroy Valetin Fernandez, Mercedez Marisol Flores, Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, Juan Ramon Guerrero, Paul Terrell Henry, Frank Hernandez, Miguel Angel Honorato, Javier Jorge-Reyes, Jason Benjamin Josaphat, Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, Christopher Andrew Leinonen, Alejandro Barrios Martinez, Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, Kimberly Morris, Akyra Monet Murray, Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, Geraldo A. Ortiz Jimenez, Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, Joel Rayon Paniagua, Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, Enrique L. Rios Jr., Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, Edward Sotomayor Jr., Shane Evan Tomlinson, Martin Benitez Torres, Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, Luis S. Vielma, Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, and Jerald Arthur Wright.
