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Jasmin’s brother, Rory, took his life in 2009

Dearest Rory,

On July 20th, 2009 I hugged you goodbye at the Naples airport and had I known that was going to be the last time I would see you, I would have told you all these things. Your heart. It was always bigger than mine, softer than mine, stronger than mine. I hope you see you’ve inspired me to merge with mine more fully. Your courage. I can’t imagine joining the Army, but it was your calling. And you listened to yourself and pushed past the barriers to arrive at the place where you felt most alive — in a tank somewhere in Iraq. Your love. Your tender, gentle heart has forever shaped me. You always noticed the person or animal that needed to be seen, to be loved, to be rescued. And while my journey has been accepting that I couldn’t rescue or save you, I want you to know that being able to rest in the wild of your love, provides a buoyancy to my soul that allows for a continual saving in moments when I forget that you are never far way. I will always love you, always miss you, and be grateful to you for leading with your heart when I didn’t know how. I pray that wherever you are, that you are free, and that you have been relieved from your pain. Please don’t forget to visit me from time to time.

Always your sister,
Jasmin

Jasmin Jenkins is a Grief Guide and the Founder of Fall Up, a community created to support people through the spectrum of their grief journey.