It seems like just yesterday the teachers gathered us in a classroom to tell us the news. You had left us earlier that morning for reasons we will never know, you were gone. I remember the cloud that hung over that classroom that morning. The room was still, the air was cold, and our hearts were heavy.

We lost you too soon. You didn't get to go through, what people call, "The best years of your life" with us. You never got to experience the adrenaline of your first high school basketball game or the nerves of asking a girl to your first high school dance. You never got to learn the Periodic Table of Elements or the United State's role in World War I.

We found out what family was. You weren't just a classmate, you were a brother. We have all been together for years, so losing you wasn't easy on any of us. I will never forget the hugs that drenched my shoulder in tears after you left. Although this tore us apart, it brought us together. We grew closer, loved each other a little harder, and became a family again.

We wanted to know why. None of us were able to understand why you had to leave. None of us understood why god needed you up there when we needed you down here. Was it something we did? Did we do something wrong, we're sorry if we did. Was it the upperclassmen? The teachers? Why weren't you happy?

We prayed for you. I'll never forget that next Wednesday night. The chairs were full at youth group that night. We were there for you. Everyone had been asking all of us all week if we were okay. Did anyone ever ask you if you were okay? It's not fair. We were getting all this attention making sure we were okay, but where was all of this when you needed it?

We should've paid more attention. We should've noticed something wasn't right. We should asked YOU if YOU were okay. But here we are instead, asking each other to open up. We should've asked you to open up. We should've asked why you were walking with your head down or why your smile wasn't as bright as it usually was.

We haven't forgotten about you. We still think about you, we all do. We haven't forgotten your birthday, in fact we all got together for a picture for it. Here, this is a picture of all of us. Our classmates played their hearts out this game, all for you. We cried for you afterwards, we wanted you to be there with us.

We're seniors now. We graduate this year, isn't that crazy? We wish you could be here, but we know you're watching over us. We know you will be watching over all of us as we go into our last year of high school. We'll be going our separate ways soon, but can I ask you a favor? Will you be sure to bring us all together again? Because I'm going to miss this family more than you think. Keep us together, keep us close, and keep under your wings.