Before it is too late

Tonya stood outside of her daughter’s room. She wasn’t going to lie. She was just a bit frustrated. After all, it was understandable that her daughter liked to sleep in, most teenagers did. But once it was past noon, it seemed just a bit ridiculous.

When the clock struck noon, Tonya started calling up the stairs trying to get her daughter to wake up and enjoy the day before it was over. Yet, five minutes later, she still hadn’t exited from her little cave of the universe. Tonya called upstairs once again, this time, irritation was starting to creep into her voice.

Back in the kitchen, Tonya went back to cleaning up from breakfast. With the exception of her and her daughter, the house was empty. It had felt empty for a long time, especially since her husband left her for a younger model. To make things even worse, since her husband moved out, Tonya felt even more alone. Her daughter spent more and more time either away from home or locked into her room.

As Tonya stood outside her daughter’s room, the clock was once again ringing. It was now 1 p.m. and she had been trying to get her daughter up for an hour now. Her daughter completely ignored her, not even acknowledging that she was calling out for her to wake up.

Tonya stood outside, her fist starting to pound on the door.

“Alright, this is getting a little old.”

Still no response. She knocked a little louder before her hand finally found the doorknob. It was locked.

“Young lady, if you don’t open this door right now….” Tonya yelled, “I swear, I will go downstairs and get the key and open it anyway!”

There was still no response.

Tonya ran down the stairs. She was pissed. She was frustrated. She was just so irritated. She could feel her jaw clenching tight. She was grinding her teeth. She rummaged through the junk drawer until she found it. The little key to open the lock.

With it in hand, she marched back upstairs. Each foot purposely pounding each step… louder and louder until she got to the top landing. She stomped back to her daughter’s door and shouted out one last time.

“Last chance! You better wake up and let me in or I am coming in anyway!”

She put the key in the door, wiggled it until she heard it click. She turned the handle and let herself in.

Her daughter was laying on the bed, her arm draped over the edge. Her eyes were glassy; an empty bottle of pills lay on the floor.

Tonya had lost; first her husband and then her daughter. It was too much. She collapsed.

Suicide is an act of despair. It is something that can be prevented. Yet, if the symptoms aren’t noticed in time; it might be too late. According to Wikipedia, over one million people commit suicide each year. It is the thirteenth leading cause of death worldwide.

For each person that is successful in their attempt, there is another one who is thinking about it. It could be a call out for attention; it could be depression; it could be that they are just lonely. Yet, it is up to each of us to look for the signs and help those people.

It might just be a friendly smile or just taking the time to listen. It might be observing that something isn’t right with the person. A small act can make a big difference. Yet, if people continue to be blinded by the signs, more people will be lost to this tragedy.

Will you be the person that makes a difference in someone’s life; or will you be the person that is blinded by the signs.

If you or someone you know is feeling the signs of desperation… reach out. It is never to late.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.