Almost seven years ago I lost one of the closest people to me, my cousin Joey. He was bullied at only the age of eleven and soon after that he took his own life. Not many people understand how serious bullying is. It can change and effect a persons whole life.

My cousin was just like any other eleven-year-old boy. He played football, basketball, and even did baseball. He was in his schools Spring Choir. He was a well liked kid, which is why I believe people didn’t want to see him happy. Young people think that just people you aren’t physically hurting someone its ok. Well its not because a most of us learn your words often speak louder then our actions.

Joey and I were very close; we were almost like brother and sister. We were always with each other, always playing games or just watching TV. I remember he would love to watch this TV show called “Charmed”. In the show its about three sisters that are witches and have to kill all the demons. They had a Book of Shadows with all the spells in it. Joey made his own Book of Shadows I think he was trying to fight off his own demons.

I remember the day like it was just yesterday. A phone call that changed everything , Aunt called and said we needed to get to the hospital quick because Joey was hurt. Hearing these words I thought maybe he broke something or was just badly injured. Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined what actually happened. As I got to the hospital I was told how he was bullied early that day and how he left a note saying he was sorry but couldn’t take the pain anymore.

After hearing all of this I broke down but didn’t believe he was gone. I couldn’t even see straight. I just wanted everything to go back to normal. Later that night as we sat and mourned of the lost, more things started to come out. How and what was said. It made me sick of how hurtful little kids could be. I thought to myself what did my cousin do to you for you to even hurt him that badly he felt he had no way out. I just didn’t understand why this was happening. I also didn’t know why he was gone, why didn’t God save him? Why let a young boy take his own life?

After seven years here I am talking about what happened to my cousin Joey. He committed suicide at the early age of eleven. He once said he wanted to be a lawyer I think he would have made a great one. Last year class of 2013 he would have graduated. Everyday I wonder what he would like. I wish one day there will be an end to bullying because I have had a huge effect on myself throughout the years. No one deserves to have to go through what my family and I did.