A Message for Teens 101

I wish I could make young people feel what it's like to miss someone so much that every fiber of their being hurts, but words don't come anywhere close to describing it.

At 4 AM this morning I was awoken from a dream I had of Jessica. In my dream, she was about 4 years old or so. You know that age where they are excited to see you. I heard her voice saying "Daddy" and turned around to have her run and jump into my arms. As I picked her up and held her, it felt so real. The one thing I remember asking her was "How do you like Heaven?" She replied, "I love it here daddy." As we talked I felt her melting away and I cried out, please don't leave me and then she was gone. I immediately woke up with uncontrollable tears in my eyes a pain in my heart that was so unbearable I could hardly breathe. It's a pain I would not wish on anyone but would gladly except again as that is the only way for me to feel her presence... even if it is for just a short moment.

If you're a young person thinking about trying drugs, please don't. I wish I could make you feel this pain for just a moment so you wouldn't make the same bad decision that Jessica did. This is not an experience you will want to impose on anyone you love. If I could convince you of one thing it would be for you to know how special you are and that the best things in life are yet to come. Please don't trade everything good that is coming for a right now moment.

-Jessica's Dad