A Reason, A Season, A Lifetime

By D.C. Crite

It’s 11 pm. It’s quiet. I sit here in the middle of my bunk in my white boxer shorts, a t-shirt.

I’m crying.

To write about being overcome with emotion seems almost trite but it’s so damned therapeutic and purgative. This is my way of dealing with loss. Amidst my tears, I am provoked to such heavy thought that I am often left to wonder, “What has led me down this road of query, conviction, and remembrance again?”

Right now, a quote keeps playing in my mind in my head: “People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.” Michael Broadway’s entrance into my life turned out to be all of the above. I know exactly what to do—I’ll never let his impact upon me go unspoken.

When B-Way decided to meet me where I was, I believe he knew I was struggling mightily with some personal issues. He didn’t press, but he waited until I was comfortable enough to let him comfort me.

An answered prayer—the reason he came into my life. He came to assist me through my difficulties, to provide me with guidance and support, to aid me physically, emotionally, and even spiritually. He was truly a godsend. He was there for the reason I needed him to be. He held me while I was crossing one of the busiest streets of my life.

This was also a rainy season in my life.

As I was enduring my own struggles, Michael proved that when people come into your life for a season, it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. I did all three.

He brought me an experience of peace and made me smile and laugh again. He also taught me something I had never done—rely on myself. As my brother, my friend, my rock, he gave me an unbelievable amount of joy. His authentic love for me and his brilliant smile were the sunshine that I needed after so much rain in my life. Unfortunately, I realize that in the same way that leaves fall from the trees, snow melts, or the moon becomes full and then disappears, our time, our season ended at the divinely appointed time. However, my heart will hold him there for a lifetime.

Some days, I’ve thought I’d be better off dead; the pain seems to grow, the memories linger, and it feels like a part of my own life has died. I know that though our years together weren’t many, I was taught many life lessons in our season together— those things I must build upon to have a solid emotional foundation. Thanks to Michael, I’m growing and sharing; my life has been made better by his being a part of it. He will always be my guiding light.

It's midnight, still quiet, and my tears have now dried. However, my thoughts still gallop down the ever-present emotional gauntlet of loss. As I reach the end—for this moment in time—I remember attending a seminar, and the speaker asked this question: “If you had three last breaths, who would you use them on and what would you say?” Ironically, I could not answer the question then because I had never met Michael Broadway. I can answer now.

The person would be Michael Broadway, and my last three breaths would be used to say, “I love you.”

I’ve come to appreciate that the prayers I sent up were why B-Way came into my life. During my rainy season, he was my protection, my umbrella. And his love, support, and brotherhood have changed me, giving me a lifetime of precious memories.

I now know why he came into my life, and I’ll forever love him for that reason.