Today, when in S.T.A.T.I.C, I asked the kids if they had any prayer requests. Some of the usual; pray for me, I'm sick, or pray that i did good on the test i took today, and even about Mr. Kevin's daughter finally having her baby! I myself had a prayer request. I asked the people to pray for Dayne Liberty's family. He was a student in my grade who went to my school, who died a year ago this Friday of cancer.
Upon thinking of the memories of when i heard he had passed, i began thinking about how i met him. It was a usual day at lunch, it was my best friends; Sarah, Felicia, Haley and John sitting at our lunch table, when i looked up, i saw this kid who i never seen before sitting alone. I pointed him out to Sarah and we both decided to leave him alone, he sat there for a few more days alone, just eating his lunch when one day i grabbed Sarah and took her over to him. He looked a little weirded out at first, not really knowing what to think- two random girls just walked up to him. I sat down across from him and introduced myself as well as Sarah. I knew she was un-comfortable, but i wanted her to be there, and i am still glad that she was. I invited him over to our table and at first he said no so i said okay and went back to our table. The next day, Sarah and i went back to him and asked him again if he wanted to sit by us, this time he said sure. For the rest of the months leading up to his death, that's where he sat.
He was in my 4th hour history class, he always was the one paying attention when he was supposed to, and the person who at other times made you laugh until your stomach hurt. Dayne was super smart, when Mrs. Korolowicz would ask a question, his hand was always one of the first to shoot up. I knew him for about three months, and then we went on Thanksgiving Break.
When i returned to school, i was happy to see all my friends again, and was excited to tell people about my trip to Wisconsin. You know those times when you can recall, everything that happened at those weird moments, like your living it all over again? Well every time i start to think about this; the moment i found out he died, replays in my head. I had walked into Ms. Henckels class for first hour. I went to go sit at my spot next to Allura, and we were talking about or break, and what we did. She noticed that something was wrong with Ms. Henckel, but we blew it off, just assuming that she was tired. Then came the announcements for the day, i still remember Mr. Jackson's voice saying that he hoped we had a good Thanksgiving, he went on with the usual announcements and a few minutes later he announced it. He told us that over the break, a freshman named Dayne Liberty had passed away of cancer. He asked us for a moment of silence, which everyone including the loud mouths in my class did.
I remember the spinning emotions in my head, trying not to cry, not knowing what to think. The rest of the day until 4th hour was a blur. When i walked into my 4th hour, Sarah and i started talking and immediately Dayne was our topic. We couldn't believe that someone who seemed so happy and so normal, was really hiding who he was. A few minutes into the class, Dayne's counselor walked in the room and started talking about him. Sarah and i were the only two who really knew him, and we broke down. I've never cried in school before, and neither has Sarah. The next few days were all gloomy between Sarah and i. We were both still very upset and didn't know who to talk to. I don't know how we came across this, but one day she came to my house and we decided to write his parents a letter, explaining to them how sorry we were for them and how Dayne changed our perspective in life.
Although, i did not know him super well, i knew him enough to know that he was brave, that he he was smart, and really funny. I didn't know him well enough to know that he battled cancer, like he had all of his life. I'm glad. I knew the Dayne Liberty that he wanted people to know. He had not mentioned once to anyone about his journey with cancer, which to me is remarkable. I can't believe it has been a year this Friday already, it's gone by so quickly.
Although i only knew Dayne for a few months, i learned a big life lesson from him; every second that you get to spend on this Earth, make the best out of it. Don't let a day go bye where you regret anything, act like if today is your last day on earth, and cherish those moments.
I pray that Dayne's family is doing okay these day's and they are going to to Lord with their sorrows, i know that losing someone isn't easy, but i also know that if you have God in your life, things will always get better.
R.I.P Dayne Liberty 11.25.2010 <3
No comments:
Post a Comment