What Is This I Don't Even

I knew him

My best friend called me the other day. We served in the Marines together. He told me about a guy we used to know who just died. I didn’t know him very well, I mean I recognized the name but I can’t remember his face. I knew a lot of guys back then, we all did. There were like 300 of us all in the same company, so we knew a lot of faces and names but weren’t close friends with them all. But it was like a fraternity, we knew each other even if we didn’t. James Gosnell was his name. I wasn’t friends with him, but I knew him. He was a little more ‘moto’ than I, and was in the scout sniper platoon before long. He served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He went there when I didn’t. Why can’t I remember his face? He was stabbed to death. Alone. In an alley in Chicago I think my friend said. Stabbed to death, alone, in an alley, and there are no suspects or motives at this time. I can’t remember his face. I google’d him today. His obituary says he is the same age as me. He has a wife. He has kids. His parents survived him. He has a best friend. He could have been me. He could have been you. He is me. He is you. He will be me. He will be you.  I knew him, once. I’ll never forget him again.