Uncle Mike Poem by Kyle Ofe

If I remember correctly, I believe it was mid June. I think it was a few days before a lot of my relatives and my birthdays. It was the middle of the night, and I was woken up by a pone call. It was a terrible phone call. I don't think I was older than four. We were called down with my extended family in the area, and I had no idea what was happening. The next thing I remember was the funeral. I was too young to realize what death was, and I didn't know I wasn't going to see him anymore.
I remember everyone crying, and I was just waiting for the service to get over.

When I got older, I realized what happened. My uncle had killed himself in my grandpa's gas station where he worked. I realized that I would never see him again, and one day, when I was old, I would forget who he was completely. I'm writing this down because I don't want to forget him. My mom just gave me her wedding album of My real dad and her's wedding, and I saw a picture with my dad and my uncle. I saw how young he was, and how happy he was, and I'm thinking, 'What went wrong? '

He was the best uncle anyone could have. He was always there for my family. He took care of me when my parent's couldn't. I am crying from that photo and realizing that I will never see him in this lifetime. I miss my uncle, and it pains me to not be able to remember him. It pains me to know that my little cousin will never know the benefits of having a dad. My family lost a father, brother, and son. My grandfather especially lost a huge chunk of his heart when it happened, and he hasn't been the same since.

I miss and love you, Uncle Mike.