Corey

I first met him when he was about 3 or 4 years old. His parents (new friends of ours) dropped Corey and his sister (2 or 3 years old) off to stay with me while they went to an evening class. I put the two of them to bed in the middle of my king size bed. When I went in to check on them they were sleeping curled together like two little kittens. Probably scared and comforting each other in that big and very strange bed. That was 30 years ago.

Corey's little sister called early this morning to tell us that her brother had died during the night. She was crying but bravely making the calls because her parents couldn't do it.

My heart is breaking. Corey and his family are so much a part of the fabric of the last 30 years. Florida, Germany, France and North Carolina. Family vacations. Family. Friends.

There are no words. Just tears and pain.