You’re never too far to come home.
By Destinee Howard
Wednesday, April 24th 2024, started as any other day. I walked into work, clocked in and began my day. When I noticed the missed call from my mother- I didn’t overthink too much. But I called her back. “Destinee, I need you to come here, please.” My mom lives in the next county over. But the tone of her voice made my heart drop. I knew something was wrong. “What. Tell me what it is?” Then those three words. The three words that changed my entire life. “Chas passed away.” I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t think. The room was spinning as I grabbed my keys and ran out to my car. The screams that erupted from my body left me petrified. It couldn’t be true. I just saw her. It wasn’t possible. I drove to my mother’s house in complete shock. I didn’t believe it. As I pulled into the driveway, the county sheriff was calling my phone. I asked only one question. “Is it true?” There was a moment of silence, “I am so sorry…” more words were spoken but I didn’t hear them. My entire world was shattered. How could my 24 year old baby sister be gone? We hear all of our lives how bad drugs are. But you’ll never fully understand the devastation that drugs bring until you’re looking down at your deceased loved one on a table. The sound of my mother weeping will forever be imprinted in my soul. My sister was strong, vibrant, and beautiful. She was the mother of a 2 year old baby boy. She loved her dogs, and helped anyone in need. She had a heart much too good for this world. But in one moment, her life was taken because someone gave her drugs laced with fentanyl. After her death I was so angry at everyone, including God. On the day of her funeral, my mom played a song by Reba titled Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone. It was in that song that I heard God telling me she was with him, and she was safe. Addiction does not discriminate. It comes for the rich, the poor, and everything in between. I wish I had the opportunity to help my sister find the light and the life she deserved, but I do not. The only thing I have left of her is my beautiful nephew. A sweet baby boy who will now have to grow up without his mommy. I pray to God nightly for those lost in addiction. It’s a dangerous world and hurt people-hurt people. The person who gave my sister the drugs that killed her didn’t care about the family she had at home. They didn’t care about the baby who needed his mother. I write this in the hopes that someone else will see this and want to get help. Because there is help out there and you deserve to live a happy, sober life. As I use to tell my sister, you’re never too far to come home. I never would have imagined that home would be Heaven.
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