Sept. 5, 2007 — My beautiful 19-year-old niece died in October after taking Oxycontin, which one of her “friends” had given her. I had written the following poem to tell her story and hopefully to “wake up” some of these teens that trust everybody and anything just so they can fit in with their peers. My niece was a kind, loving, funny girl who befriended everyone she met. Unfortunately, not everyone she met had her best interests at heart.
The Gift
My “friends” gave me what they called a “Gift”.
“It will get you high, give you a lift.”
My parents had warned me about this kind of stuff.
“Don’t smoke it, don’t snort it and don’t ever huff.”
“Be careful who you chose as a friend,
True colors always come out in the end.”
This went in one ear and out the other;
What does she know; she’s only my mother.
For a second or two, I had to choose;
“If I take this stuff, what will I lose?”
“Come on said my “friends” are you in or not?”
And I nodded my head with no second thought.
“Don’t take this whole, let’s crush it instead”
“The high is much better…goes straight to your head.”
“Sniff through this straw, you know how it’s done.”
But I should have known better, I should have run.
The drug went in my nose, right up to my brain,
But instead of a high all I felt was pain.
Panic was rising, I yelled, “my head it hurts”.
“My throat feels like it’s all clogged with dirt.”
“I cannot breath, there is no air;
This can’t be happening, it isn’t fair.”
I grabbed my head and fell to the ground.
My friends were just staring, there wasn’t a sound.
The blood, it was coming out of my ears,
My mouth and my nose, and even my tears.
The pain that was in my head at first,
Moved into my chest…my heart had now burst.
“My friends, why are you standing there?”
“Why aren’t you helping, why don’t you care?”
“Call for some help, call mom and dad;
They’ll help me out even if they are mad.”
Instead, they left me there on the floor,
Grabbed all of their stuff and went out the door.
These “friends” of mine, that I held so dear,
Had just watched me die and then left me here.
For more than 12 hours, I lay this way.
They didn’t come back until the next day.
The ambulance, cops and the coroner came.
I knew that my family would not be the same.
My mom and my dad, I know that they’ll cry.
Forever and ever, they’ll ask themselves why.
You have to have friends; in life they’re a must.
But life’s not a game, so watch whom you trust.
Because I lost my life, I hope that you see,
All because of a “gift”, my “friends” gave to me.
A.M.R. 2001
Rest In Peace Nicole (Coley-Bear)
We’ll love you 4-ever.
Aunt Amari
