Forever 27

In honor of my older brother, I write this to express how precious life is. Unfortunately, at twenty-seven years young, a beautiful person was taken away from this thing called life way too soon. This book is about understanding that being an addict doesn't mean "you're a bad person." My brother was beyond amazing, intelligent, and such a great big brother to me. Sadly, demons took over his body, and they became too big to fight off. I hope reading this book about my brother's life helps people realize that nobody wakes up and says they want to be an addict. It isn't a choice like others think it is. Maybe the very first time you ever try a drug, but what happens to someone after trying drugs is unbearable and a nightmare that they have to face every day that becomes one giant black demon inside of themselves. I want people to understand that addiction is a mental illness, and it's not what anyone thinks. But, people still judge an addict so quickly. You cannot just simply turn off being an addict, and it's just not as easy as people make it out to be. It has nothing to do about how you grew up, where you live, or what you do for a living. Addiction is the worst thing to watch someone struggle with, and now I have to face a nightmare every day, waking up knowing that my big brother is no longer here. I know that poison cannot reach my brother in heaven anymore, I know he is now safe and free, and I pray he is living the life he always deserved. No one can ever hurt my brother again. I gained faith to write about my brother's life and his story to help maybe someone else struggling as well because mental illness is not talked about nor supported enough, and if you or someone you love have never suffered from drug addiction, consider yourself very thankful. Forever 27, To the Best Big Brother Ever.