One year ago today, my family was forever changed. One year ago today, too many people learned the hard way that life is too short to not hold the ones you love close. One year ago today, my little brother, Isaac, was shot and killed. As far as I know, the police are no closer to finding who did this to him than they were a year ago. So many people claim to know what happened, why it happened, and who did it, but no one talks to the police. It's frustrating.

I didn't learn of his murder until one year ago, tomorrow. One year ago, tomorrow, we were celebrating my daughter's second birthday. One year ago, tomorrow, Sera was playing with her birthday gifts when my mom called me. One year ago, tomorrow, my mom told me that she had really bad news and that my little brother had been shot and killed. One year ago tomorrow, I felt sorrow that I hadn't felt since my dad had passed away. Only this time, it was coupled with guilt...the guilt of not being the best sister I could have been; the guilt of not telling him enough how much I loved him; the guilt of letting him draw away from the family and not fighting harder to keep him close; the guilt of not knowing if he died, not knowing how much I loved him. I should have done more. I should have been there the few times he did reach out to the family. I should have been a better sister, and now it's too late. I can't be that for him. I miss him.