On September 27, 2017, in Hurricane Irma's aftermath, my son, Austin, passed away from an apparent suicide. Austin died homeless, alone, and last seen in the presence of a convicted sodomist. He was more than his pain or the circumstances surrounding his death. Austin was a talented and insightful man with much to say. I put together this compilation of writings from the last months of his life as a parting gift of sorts.
At Austin's life celebration, his brother, Dylan, perfectly captured Austin's spirit and the purpose of this book when he said, "My brother saw this world in a way that nobody else could. He knew truths that we could not see, and he had difficulties we could not understand. But he also loved. He loved his family and friends fiercely, and he was a savant with children and animals. Perhaps an existential discussion would be the best tribute possible, or maybe a children's tale of wonderment. But instead, I will let his writing speak for him."
More than anything, Austin wanted to be seen and heard as someone of value. Thank you for taking the time to see his heart, hear his words, and honor his humanity. 'The Resurrection Circle: A Son's Pain,' focuses on Austin's writing. For a first-hand account of his passing, please read the companion book, "The Resurrection Circle: A Mother's Grief."
