When the doorbell rang, I was home by myself. When I opened the door, I don’t remember much else. All I remember is that the cop standing there gave me a look that told me my life was about to change forever.
“I’m so sorry, son…”
That’s all I really heard before his other words got mixed up. Riley and Emily, my parents, had died in a motorbike accident. A drunk driver. They were gone in an instant.
It’s been a while since I last looked at the floor. I didn’t feel like I was in my body; it was numb. I was getting married soon. As all parents do, they were meant to be there to cheer, take pictures, and make me feel bad.
“What do I need to do?” In the end, I whispered. “This Saturday is my graduation.”
Officer Ellison didn’t think twice. He looked me straight in the eye and told me, “You’re going to walk.” They’ll be there in spirit, though. I will make sure you cross that stage.
I don’t know why, but the way he said it made me believe him.
I stood there in my cap and gown on Saturday, my chest tight as I looked around the crowd. I knew my parents weren’t there. Then I saw him.
Ellison, the police officer, was standing where my dad would have been.
He was there when my name was called. He was there when I walked across the stage. He gave me a hug and said, “They’d be so proud of you,” as I walked off with my diploma.
Before that day, I didn’t know him. But in some way, he was just the person I needed when things were at their worst.
When the service was over, the truth of my situation hit me like a wave. When I got home, it was quiet. There was no happy dinner, no laughing, and no mom and dad waiting with tears in their eyes. Just me.
The officer gave me his number before he left. “Call me if you need anything.” “I really mean it.”
I had no plans to use it. I did not want to be a bother. But that night, as I stared at the sky in my empty bedroom, I broke. I quickly sent a text message that said, “I don’t know what to do now.”
He replied right away: “You don’t have to do it alone.”
There was another knock on the door the next morning. I wasn’t afraid to answer this time. He stood there with two coffee cups and a bag of donuts in one hand. “Thought you shouldn’t be alone to start the day.”
That became the norm. He would show up every morning. Sometimes just to check in, sometimes with food. He helped me with forms and legal things I didn’t understand. He also made sure I wasn’t too stressed out from all the changes.
After about a week, he asked, “What’s next for you?”
I gave a shrug. “I guess college.” Even though I got into State, I’m not sure if I still want to go. Feels…wrong.
He didn’t push, he just nodded to show that he got it. “That’s what your parents wanted for you, right?”
I took a deep breath. “Yes.”
“Then don’t let that go.”
I didn’t have a good answer. Being sad made me want to agree, but it felt like a heavy anchor pulling me away.
A letter came in the mail a few days after that. It came from the lawyer for my parents. I wasn’t expecting to find a letter from my dad inside. That was months ago, before the accident. He was going to give it to me after I graduated.
Keep going through life, no matter what. Do not stop moving forward. We will always have faith in you.
I read those words many times. There it was, I knew what I had to do.
After two months, I got ready to go to college. It wasn’t simple. It felt like I was leaving them all the time. But Ellison was there with me, helping me move and making stupid jokes about living in a room. He kept me from falling too deeply into my own sadness.
I finally asked him, “Why did you do all this?” as he helped me move the last box. “You had no idea who I was.”
He put the box down and leaned against my car. “My dad died when I was your age.” I remember how lonely I was. There were people around, but no one really got it. I promised myself that I would help someone else get through that if I ever got the chance.
I took the lump in my throat in. “Thanks.” For everything.
He gave me a shoulder pat. “Say one thing to me.”
“What is that?”
“Keep going.”
I said “yes,” and it was the first time since my parents’ deaths that I thought I might be able to.
Things don’t always go as planned in life. It can cause us unbearable pain at times. But in those times, a stranger’s kindness can mean the world.
Feel free to share your story if someone helped you get through a hard time. Today, you never know who might need to hear it.
