Once you’ve been around for a few years, you realize just how unpredictable life can be. And for some people, this unpredictability ultimately leads to their lives ending before their time.
23-year-old Officer Charles Irvine Jr. was one of these people.
The young man lost his life in an auto accident while on duty in Milwaukee.
A fallen officer is always a cause for grief, and Irvine’s young age makes this story especially saddening.
A memorial was constructed to honor Officer Irvine.
Many people passed this memorial, including 12-year-old Avant Turner.
One thing stood out to Avant: Officer Irvine’s former police cruiser, which was now so heavily decorated with gifts and flowers that the vehicle itself was difficult to spot.
Next to the cruiser was a photo of Officer Irvine and when Avant saw it, he realized something terrible.
He and the officer had known one another.
In fact, they’d been friends, not that many of the community were aware.
Losing a friend is hard no matter what your age. But it can be even more difficult to comprehend as a 12-year-old. Avant struggled with his grief, unable to let it go.
So Avant did what many of us do in such a time: he put pen to paper and let his emotions out.
There’s plenty of evidence to suggest that writing can help ease feelings of loss and grief. Some research suggests that putting your deepest emotions into written form can boost mood and wellbeing.
While writing can’t bring back a loved one, it can help you to come to terms with their passing. You may also feel lighter for expressing the feelings that have been weighing you down since the death of someone you cared about.
The letter Avant wrote was incredibly heartfelt.
He thanked Officer Irvine for being his friend and helping him when he needed it.
Apparently, Avant often stopped off at the precinct before school.
Officer Irvine took the time to talk to the young man about school and life, sometimes even helping out with his school work.
Few people knew Avant and Officer Irvine were friends, but of course, that doesn’t matter.
In an interview with WISN 12 News, Avant admitted:
“He the only person I could tell my secrets to… I can only tell him, cause he the only one who understands.”
Avant hadn’t had an easy life. He’d started visiting Officer Irvine after his brother had been arrested. The officer had helped him through thick and thin, so it’s no surprise that his death was so hard to come to terms with.
While his letter might not be as catchy as the colorful bouquets that line the memorial, Avant’s gift is perhaps the most personal of them all.
Avant’s mom knew how much Officer Irvine meant to her son.
She said:
“There’s a lot of stuff going on again with officers, where the community is not trusting the officers, but some of them, you can find a lot of trust in. You’ve got to find those ones, and Officer Irvine was the one.”
You can watch a video about this emotional story below.
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