A fallen friend- Ralph

ha. Back from finals -I passed- and well.. I got some bad, no horrifying news. A junior Ralph Hilado took his own life early this morning with a bullet. I saw the facebook group and went "Wait who is that?" I did some research and realized "Oh, he's on cleaning crew" He and some red headed kid always came into our conflict room and ignored our "YOULL GET A SLIP"s I never -in the handful of times i remember-  can remember seeing a sad kid. He was always smiling, joking, our making someone laugh. He seemed like one of those overall happy kids. The general Chaminade consensus follows. No one understands how this happens. 

It's tragic. Some people said "I saw him hours after comps and he was going to the city and I wanted him to wait cause I was going to but, he left."   I cant imagine how it must feel to know "Hey, if I had made him wait or gone with him maybe I would've changed something" the guilt and anxiety on that persons shoulders is unbearable. Many people saw him after comps he spent most days doing cleaning crew so no one thought anything of it. All saying he seemed normal they wished him a good summer and went home.

But, sadly early this morning he stopped his own life for reasons unknown. It's horribly sad and my thoughts and prayers go out to him, his family, and anybody who knew this wonderful kid. And especially to anyone who saw him and now must bear the weight of the "What if.." don't play that game with yourself. Also to one of his closer friends Brian whos birthday was yesterday, the last day of school.

So, this is what the other side of blogging is like.. I think I'm ready.

R.I.P. Ralph Hilado

6/20/08

KCTW