A couple weeks ago, my uncle’s friend committed suicide. He was 48, the same age as my own father. He had four children; his youngest is only 8.

I never personally met this man, though I heard all about his youngest son. My cousin and his son are best friends. Their friendship is the reason my cousin never wants to spend time with our own family.

So aside from instances when my little cousin was talking about his friend, this family never crossed my mind. Now, I think about them quite often. I’ll continue to think about them frequently too. I don’t know what their home-life was like, entirely. As far as I know, they were a happy and put-together family. He was an incredibly successful man with a pleasant demeanor.

That being said, I can’t help but wonder what could possibly have led him to this end result.

Suicide is permanent. That may seem like an obvious statement, but I feel like the gravity of the decision to kill oneself doesn’t always register with someone who is suicidal. All that matters is that moment. That chance to escape, but it’s only an escape of temporary problems. An escape that lasts a lifetime for everyone else.

The choice my uncle’s friend made will have an impact on his wife, children, friends and family forever. They can’t escape his decision, which almost leads me to want to say suicide is selfish. However, maybe that’s the point. All the pressure to live for everyone is overwhelming.

I realize that I don’t know what my uncle’s friend’s home life was like or the demons he struggled with, and I assume he thought about all of this. Still I can’t help but wonder: why?

Why would this man not want to see his son graduate high school? Why wouldn’t he want to grow old with his wife? Why has he left his children to a world of hurt and confusion as they grow older?

I’ll never have the answers to these questions, and neither will anyone else.

I’ve only heard one explanation for suicide that helps me understand. Suicide simulates being at the edge of a cliff. Many people flirt with the edge but most see a bridge: some means of hope. Those contemplating suicide see no bridge, no rope. Just an ending.

These endings have a lasting impact which I assume that impact is thought about.

The concept that I struggle with most is how one can willingly wish for this ending when so many people are resiliently fighting for their own lives. Whether these people are battling a terminal illness or off serving our country. There is no justice in that.

Maybe it may seem like there isn’t anything worth living for, but there isn’t necessarily any event or circumstance that is worth dying for. No human being is worth more dead than he or she is alive. Every person on this planet has something to offer and the ability to change someone’s life. Every person.

I want to be clear that the purpose of this article is not to judge my uncle’s friend or anyone who has committed or even contemplated suicide, because that’s not my place. I admit I’ve been in dark places, but never to the point where I saw only one ending in sight. Since I haven’t been in a position like that one, it would be unfair of me to judge someone when I haven’t been in his or her shoes.

I just know that, as we grow older, events like this become more likely and it’s possible we’ll know someone who wants to make such a choice. I want us to avoid that if at all possible.

While this may not seem like a predominant issue currently, I’d rather write something as a precautionary measure than see this become timely. I imagine there are people toying with the thought of suicide even at our school.

So be sure to look out for those people who are struggling. You never know how much of an impact reaching out can have. And don’t think that people who are successful have it all together. Sometimes, they’re the ones who struggle the most.

And those of you flirting with that edge right now, please think about who cares about you. Think about all the potential your future has. Think about all the people you’ll never meet, all the opportunities you’ll never come across. Think about who wouldn’t find you.

And no matter how hidden or obscure it may seem, think about that bridge and know it’s always there.