The above photo was taken in December at a holiday gathering of friends at a local Italian restaurant.  From left to right, this is Sheila, Bianca, and James.

I’ve known Bianca and James for almost ten years – I met them through Ray (he knew them first, but that’s just a technicality).  They’ve been together forever, it seems like.  Two years ago, they officially tied the knot.  I was the photographer at their wedding.

James died last night.

Many of us knew that he suffered from depression, but he refused to seek any form of treatment for it.  He went through peaks and valleys, and those of us that he talked to offered support.  Bianca took him to the doctor a few weeks ago, and the doctor gave him medicine that he apparently didn’t want to take.

When we got the call, when Rodney called and told us that James had shot himself, Ray and I tried to be optimistic as we drove over to the house.  Maybe he’d shot himself in the foot – James could be clumsy sometimes.  Maybe it was a household mishap.

It wasn’t.

It’s only been 24 hours since we got the news, but it seems like a lifetime ago.  We’ve tried to be there for Bianca, and we’ve helped out … well, let’s just say I’ve got some things to tell my therapist this week.  Bianca is strong, and she’s got a network of people there to support her.  By 11 o’clock last night, there were 15 people at Rodney’s house, all wanting to do something—nearly impossible on a holiday weekend.

I wish James could have seen this, to see the many shocked, tearful faces that came through, and to hear phone after phone ringing off the hook.  I wish he knew how many people cared about him.

I hope he’s finally at peace.