Jeff 'Nexus' Taylor

Melissa, 18 and already a mother, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Neither of the girls were driving, but it was because the boys they were with wanted to do some dumb-ass stunt – well, they did. The car was a mangled wreck, but somehow the picture that Melissa carried around with her of her little girl was found in the seat that she was thrown 45 feet from.

Now I have a brother and sister-in-law who is left without a child (and fighting for custody of thier grand daughter) and has another with serious injuries. They have three younger boys who will never see thier sister again.

The town they live in couldn’t be more supportive. I was awe-struck by the lines of students that were streaming in, wearing shirts they had made up in honor of Melissa. It was beautiful.

I also stop and think about the miracle that we are left with. Davyna could have just as easily been killed. I have yet to tell her how happy I am that she is still with us, how overwhelmed I became when I found out she would be okay. Everyone has been dealing with the ‘routine’ of a family death, I just hope someone has stopped to tell her how important she is to. I will very soon.