Dear Bobby,

I am so sorry for what you went through and the way that you ended your life. I know what it feels like because I was there at one point in my life. I wanted to die and not live anymore because of the way I saw things. It took a strong person and a failed attempt to realize what I had and what I would've lost.

I look back on it today and see how much my life has changed since then. While I still deal with some of the things that caused me to go deep into my depression, I look upon them with a greater conviction and strength. I know that my goal in life is to help people avoid what I almost did and to help them through those feelings.

The most important thing that life has taught me is that suicide is a permamant solution to a temporary problem and while it may seem like there is no hope, there always is a small shining light to help guide you through it. To borrow a line from the trevor project and one that I can say with pride and conviction:

"I'm glad I failed at suicide because my life is so amazing right now."

Bobby, I know what I say now doesn't help, but I do hope that this letter will help someone figure out what took me forever to do. The three most important things

1. There's always hope no matter how bleak the forcast

2. Suicide is a permamant solution to a temporary problem

3. There is always someone out there that cares for you, even if you feel alone

With love and hope,

Eric

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I decided to write this letter and post it here because of a movie that is going to play tonight on lifetime called prayers for bobby. The movie hits close to home for me, and it brings up some very important issues that face the GLBTQ community, especially the GLBTQ youth. For more information check out these sites:

http://www.prayersforbobby.com - Movie website

http://www.thetrevorproject.org/prayersforbobby.aspx - Trevor Project's take on the movie