Llewellyn

Llewellyn was a very quiet kid. I remember that about him like it was yesterday. Oddly enough, I don't remember much about his character or personality. He was the same age as me and we were both in the same class for 5th and 6th grade in Elementary school. He was small. He always had short hair, and I think one of his parents was in the military. I think that's what brought them him to the islands. I think he had a younger brother. The only thing I really can recall when thinking on what kind of person he was, is that he was very quiet, and soft-spoken and I think he had an accent. I dont remember his last name.

But I remember him every so often. I see him in my memory, just standing and smiling. He has a pair of brown shorts and he has an oversized backpack. Barely able to hold it up, as he has skinny legs and a thin frame, his short curly hair shiny from some hair product. I remember he was a really nice kid, and he always had a wide smile.

Thing is, about 17 years ago, I had been searching around the internet and discovered that Llewellyn had died. I recall hearing somehow that he had been hurt in an accident. The details are sketchy, but in the end it doesn't really matter. He hasn't been alive for a long time now.

I don't know why I think about him. I never really knew him besides the little I can recall now. But I do think about him. And when I do, I wonder what kind of person he would be today? What kind of life would he have led? Why wasn't he able to make it to his 20th high school reunion? Many of the 'what could have been' questions come to mind.

How many Llewellyn's do you know? Those individuals that you may not have known well, but passed way too soon. So early, that the loss is not felt because of a personal relationship, but because Innocence is the real victim. And that loss is hard to comprehend and tough to get over.

I hope that wherever his parents are, they know that even after these many years, there are people who remember their son. And that the memory of their son is a good one.