really gone from bad to worse with them...

I was still feeling a bit crappy today, but went to work anyway. Crappy and exhausted. But I made it there, thinking, okay this day sucks, but it can't get any worse.

Oh how wrong I was.

It was barely 8:00 when I got a call. It was from the guy I kinda know named Bob. It was at his house that my friend AJ (I've posted about him before) was staying. Yesterday morning, AJ took a rifle, put it to his chin, and pulled the trigger.

Yeah...

He wasn't dead, but they didn't expect him to make it. And if he did, he'd be a vegetable. Well, I told my boss and my coworkers what was going on, and that I was gonna go to the hospital over lunch to see him. But as i sat there, staring at my desk, I realized how wrong it was for me to wait. So I just told them all I was leaving then and I'd be back soon.

I won't go into graphic detail about it, but its all pretty messed up...obviously. I just can't believe it. He wasn't a prince or a saint, he had issues. And some of the holes he had dug were pretty deep. And he had very little family support, so there was no way it was going to be an easy climb out of the holes. But, I can't believe he'd resort to something like this.

I was only there less than an hour, talking to the family. I did get to see him twice. Both times i held his hand, thankfully he was still warm, still alive. I mean, I know what made him AJ was long gone by then, but at least he was still technically alive, so I could say goodbye to him.

His aunt said that's basically all they were waiting on, was for everyone to say their goodbyes. The doctors were going to reevaluate him later in the morning and then, if there was no change, the family was probably going to take him off life support. Which is really for the best, the condition he was in.

I haven't heard anything yet, but I assume its over. Bob is going by after work, I'll call him tonight to get details. I gave my info to AJ's aunt to call me when they make...the arrangements.

I'm just glad I got to tell him goodbye, hold his hand...I kissed my fingers and put them on his hand...I don't know if he felt it or not, but I like to think maybe be did.

I never posted his photo, only his icon. What can it hurt to post it now?

My beautiful, funny, fun, loving, sweet, misguided friend AJ.....

And I've learned to NEVER assume things can't get any worse.

UPDATE: They removed the life support earlier today, and he continued breathing on his own. I've been told this could on for days, weeks, months, or even indefinitely. God, the thought of that, of him in limbo like that, is almost worse than if he had just passed...

UPDATE: About 7:45 pm, AJ stopped breathing and died. God rest his soul.

POLT