Tommy’s Late Night Call
My stepbrother committed suicide a few years ago. He had a problem with drugs most of his adult life. Many times we tried to get help for him but he stayed in denial. It caused psychological problems for him as well and eventually, he took his own life. Out of that tragedy, my nephew’s life was saved.
At the funeral, I hugged my nephew who I had not seen in just over a year. I told him if he ever needed anything to call me, as my stepbrother was my brother without DNA. A couple of weeks later, he did. It was nearly 3 a.m. but I answered to hear my nephew say, “Aunt Teresa, can I please come over? I keep thinking about Daddy and I am scared I may hurt myself.”
I told him yes. I called a taxi to pick him up and paid for it when it arrived. I hugged my nephew and poured him a cup of hot chocolate I had made for him while waiting. He had always loved hot chocolate.
Tommy turned to me and said he felt so hurt over his daddy’s suicide that he thought about doing the same thing. But he did not want to put his mom or his two brothers through another one. He was desperate, hurting, on cocaine and did not know what to do. Both of his parents had been on drugs his entire life.
I went to the phone and called a hotline. I spoke to a wonderful counselor who also talked to Tommy. I was confident that Tommy would be okay with me but the counselor thought we should make it over there anyway. As I drove, I told Tommy some of the things his dad and I had done as teenagers. He was actually laughing by the time we pulled up.
I still miss my brother. I will always believe that, in some way we can not fathom, he helped Tommy and I connect again so that I could help my nephew. Today Tommy is married and the proud father of a beautiful little girl. He helps out at the same center that helped him that night long ago. I have sort of adopted his little one as my granddaughter and Tommy still loves to hear stories about his dad’s antics as a teenager. I think my stepbrother Alan would be proud of his son. I know I certainly am proud of the young man who reached out and got help that night. When his daughter is older, I can not wait to tell her just how special her daddy is.
