To those we lost to suicide,

I am so sorry.

I am so sorry that you felt so alone, so helpless, so unworthy, so unloved.

I am so sorry that no one told you in time that they loved you and that you were a big part of their life.

I'm sorry that it took your death to happen, for everyone to come together for you. It should've happened before and it didn't and it's sad, but maybe this is a lesson. I'm sorry you have to be this lesson, but maybe it's this reason that more people will appreciate and love their loved ones and voice it to them more often.

I wish I could go back in time and hug and say I love you to every person we have lost to suicide because it is tragic and not something that we should have to go through. No one should ever feel the need to take their life and it's sad that they do. I wish I could say more than I am sorry but unfortunately that's about all there is. I am so sorry you felt the way you did and I wish you would've made the decision to reach out before it got to the life or death point. Just know you're really, really missed here.

To those who lost someone to suicide,

I am so sorry they took their life. I am sorry that you're hurting and that you can't get them back. I wish that there were words that I could say that could take that pain away but I know that there's nothing. You have this void now and this heaviness now that you didn't have before and I am sorry. I know that you're going to try and fill that void with things that are meaningless, and try as you might, you'll always fail because that space was meant for them and they are gone and I am so sorry. You should know though that they are always with you in your heart.

There will be things that remind you of them on occasion and you should take that as a sign of them saying hey, I'm still here, because that's exactly what that is. They still love you and you'll still be able to feel them. No matter how much time passes, you won't forget them or the memories you guys had together but that void, that hole in your heart will hurt a lot less. You will wake up one morning and feel better than the day before. The hurt will subside, but that doesn't mean you will lose your memories of them, or not be able to feel them anymore. It just means one day you'll think of them and smile a little more than you cry. I promise that even though it doesn't seem like that day will come right now, it will.

To those who have contemplated suicide,

Reach out. Please, reach out to someone, to anyone. There will be so many people willing to help you through whatever you are going through. All you have to do is speak up and I promise you that there will be so many open arms ready to take you in and help you through. So many people will come together for you and this is the time that they should do it, while you're here with us, not when you're already gone, so please let them. Let them help you. Let yourself open up and accept their love so you can stay here with us where you belong. You are so loved and you are not alone, ever.

I know that you feel so helpless right now and you feel like no matter what you do, that things will not get better, but that's not true. You will be okay. There are so many people right there willing to help you through whatever you are going through and you don't even realize it. You are loved and cared for by many and if you leave, so does all the light you bring and we don't want that to happen. We need your light here on earth, and we need you.

Please stay.

Please reach out.

www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org