These past few days have been heartbreaking, empty, sad.
On Sunday, May 16th. Eight year old Cashmere Castillo fell into the Chicago River while playing a simple sunny afternoon game of tag. As of this morning, Cashmere is still lost in the river. A child with so much energy and life, cannot be found. A child filled with laughter and joy...is still missing.
Many times on the news you will hear of a story like this and feel sadness, concern and compassion for the family. Then...sometimes....it hits home. Cashmere is the younger brother of Christian, my son Jalen's best-friend.
There is a different kind of sadness and pain that comes with knowing the child it has happened too. There is a deeper sense of helplessness when you see the lost look of your son's best friend and there is nothing you can do to make it better. There is a moment when you feel your heart shatter...when you see his father breakdown into tears of desperation. There is nothing that can describe the pain of watching his mother...nothing.
Last night, I witnessed something beautiful. Something full of hope. Something of love. An entire community came to Eugene Field Park. They came for Cashmere, for his Mother, Father and Brother. They came for one another.
It started with a handful of people and grew to over 300. Candles were lit and placed all along the river. People cried and held hands, strangers consoled one another. Teachers from Volta Elementary came and cried and shared stories of Cashmere. Willy, Cashmere's Father turned to the crowd and said, we are not alone...our family is here. You are all a part of our family now. And it was true. We are.
I found out that my son, Jalen has been Christian's biggest supporter. I found out he has set up intervals where the students go to check on Christian at his home. I discovered that my son, at 14 was more of a man than I could have ever hoped he would be. I saw within him a deeper and stronger love than I could have imagined anyone would have at fourteen. I found my son to be a symbol of strength.
I have witnessed in these past few days...hope, strength, humility, loss, fear, compassion, determination, pain, grief, sorrow...but most importantly, I have witnessed love.
