Lives sometimes get cut short, it's unfortunate, but it's reality.

On Tuesday, December 6th, my mom called me around 11 AM. She told me that my close friend Donavin was in the hospital on life support. She told me that he was beaten and thrown over a guardrail. This incident occurred at the Pagoda in Reading, Pennsylvania, a very popular hangout spot, and scenic area. When I hung up the phone with my mother, I dropped to the floor and started sobbing, I couldn't believe it. She picked me up from school about an hour later and took me to the hospital. The car ride was very silent, minus a few weeps that she and I let out. When we arrived at the hospital my mom asked me multiple times, "Lexi, are you sure you want to see him?" Whenever she asked I would say, "I have to mom, I love him, he didn't deserve this."

I remember walking through the hallways of the hospital, peeking into every room looking for Donavin. When we finally got to the room there he was lying in the hospital bed, I could tell that he was gone, but I wasn't accepting it. He had breathing tubes and all these wires connected to him, I was scared. I didn't want him to feel any more pain. I kept looking at the machine, the machine that was keeping him alive. I sat next to him for about a half hour and held his hand, his stiff hand. I wanted nothing more than for him to grab my hand and squeeze it. I wonder if he realized that I was even there.

I cried and cried, I was in complete denial that I was going to lose him permanently. On the ride back to school, I had my mom stop at Mcdonald's because all I wanted was junk food, maybe that would take away the pain. When I got back to school I ran into my friend Jordyn's dorm bawling my eyes out, I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe that someone would hurt him the way that they did, and leave him for dead.

As Wednesday rolled around my eyes were so dry. I spent all of Tuesday crying, I woke up crying on Wednesday, I was in such denial. I ended up putting myself together and going to class and work on Wednesday, it was very difficult. After my shift on Wednesday, my friend Jordyn and I ended up going to the mall to pick up shirts for the weekend. My mom texted her the news that they pulled the plug and Donavin was officially gone. I remember holding in a flood of tears since we were in public. Jordyn gave me a big hug and we continued our shopping. I was shaking, I was in full blown shock. I couldn't believe that someone killed him.

I spent all of Wednesday night sobbing, questioning why God would let such a wonderful man leave this world so soon. On Wednesday night, I put together a GoFundMe account to start a scholarship in Donavin's name and a few other things.

Thursday was the toughest day for me personally because I had to present my final project for my English Composition class. I apologized in advance for the poor presentation, I knew that I was going to cry during the presentation, I was not able to even go 10 minutes without crying. I said about three words because losing it, but I was able to present my entire project. Thursday was the toughest day because it was the first full day that he was gone. I had to call off work because I kept crying and crying, I didn't know what to do with myself at all.

Donavin was very special to me and I am so glad that he came into my life during 7th grade. I met Donavin in 7th-grade science, he sat next to me for a quarter which was 45 days. Donavin was a polite boy and never gave me issues. He struggled a lot in science, and I helped him out a lot. He was super nice and during the compost project he helped me out a lot. I hated the smell of the trash, and he did the entire project for me. He respected me a lot and I gave him the same respect back. Donavin and I ended up talking a lot more when I hit high school. Unfortunately, he was held back, but that didn't stop us from hanging out.

During my freshman year of high school, Donavin would walk up to the high school and hang out with me after school. My parents officially separated my freshman year of high school and I used to vent to him about my feelings. He was very supportive and always opened up his arms. He came over in November and officially met my mom and dog. He loved playing with my dog, whenever he came over he played with my dog. Donavin bought me a beautiful jewelry set for Christmas, and I ended up wearing it to my freshman formal. Through the next three years of high school Donavin and I ended up going to see movies together, we grabbed dinner a few times, chowed down some frozen yogurt, watched some high school football games, and chilled at my house. Whenever we hung out he would always make sure that I was happy with life, and if I wasn't, he would do what he could to help me out.

I talked a lot with Donavin about college, something he didn't plan. Donavin was a very hands-on kind of kid. He was able to fix anything and put anything together. My mom grew very close with him, calling him to help out and he was always willing to help a hand. He did a lot of yard work for us, he painted for us, and even decorated for Christmas. He decorated our outside only a few days before his passing. I haven't been home yet to see the job that he did, but I'm sure it was a great job. Donavin ended up spending two entire days to decorate my graduation party, and he never asked for anything in return.

Donavin taught me to appreicate every little thing in life because it can be taken away in a split second. Before I left for college Donavin bought me a necklace that I never plan to remove from my body, it has a very special place in my heart now, and I can always carry him with me.

There is not a day that will go by that I won't miss him. Fly high buddy, I love you.