The Vigil

                      My heart is overwhelmed. My thoughts are racing. Today is the candlelight vigil for one of my students. He has been missing for two weeks. During that time, the police, his family, friends and myself have been scouring the neighborhood trying to find anything that would explain his disappearance. His name is Juan. He’s one of my best students and a fantastic pitcher on the little league team that I coach. He is small for a ninth grader and always getting teased about it. He would come to me when he was being bullied and I would tell him to stand up for himself. He didn't know how but it didn't stop him from being the best. I pulled myself out of bed and quickly showered. I didn’t want to be late. They were expecting me; I am his favorite teacher. He is very vocal about that. I threw on a shirt, jeans and a baseball cap. Pulling it down over my face, I locked the front door behind me. I checked my trunk and made sure it was closed. It always pops open on its own. It was closed so I got in the car and started the drive to the Elementary school. It seemed as though all my students and co-workers had shown up. They each carrier candles of different colors, sizes and shapes and were starting to light them. The sun was down and music played softly from someone's car. We gathered in front of the school and his mother and father began to speak. Then his siblings. Then classmates. It went on like that for awhile and I struggled to keep my eyes dry. “Mr. Rich? Did you want to say something?” His mother asked. I smiled and my students turned to look at me. “Well,” I started, wiping my eyes, “This has been a terrible time for me. Juan is a great example of the kind of student every teacher wants. Straight A's, good attendance, never disrupting the class, always does what he is told.” I could hear his mother sobbing. “He is amazing.” I continued, “And I pray that he is found safe.” A soft applause ended my speech and I lowered my head again. I blew out my candle and handed it to the nearest person who didn't have one. I went to Juan's mother and embraced her. We cried a bit before I told her goodbye. I missed him. He was my best student. But now it was time to go. I had to get his body out of my trunk and back home to bury it in the backyard.