At Twenty-Six

At 26 I had not yet been to Italy;  I had not even seen California.

At 26 I had not yet been to Central Park, nor stuck my feet in the ocean.

At 26 I had not yet experienced a computer, the wonders of the internet, nor a smartphone.

At 26 I had not yet owned a home of my very own.

At 26 I had not yet met many of the friends I cherish so deeply today.

At 26 I had not yet embarked on life’s greatest adventure: fatherhood. 

At 26 I had not yet held my child in my arms; my precious children did not even exist.

At 26 I still had at least 35 more years to go.

At 26 all of my best years and adventures still lay before me.

At 26 Breonna Taylor had no more years, no more adventures, no more days, no more breaths. 

At 26 Breonna Taylor was shot and killed, in her bed, by the Louisville Police.

At 26 Breonna Taylor had the rest of her life stolen from her by the police, who were found “not guilty.”

#JusticeforBreonna #BlackLivesMatter #EndPoliceBrutality