A Bad Good-bye

by Jack Runion

I'll never forget January 19, 2008. I was coming down Teays Valley Road, having just eaten lunch at Bob Evans, when my phone rang; it was my cousin John. He told me I needed to come out to Parse's house right away. I asked what was wrong, but inside I knew something...must have happened to my dad. He managed to get out the words,'Your dad. He's dead. He shot himself.'Death is always a hard subject to grasp, especially when it's the life of a loved one. You may be overwhelmed with feelings of grief, depression, even anger. But how do you react when the person you loved took his own life? Jack Runion had to face this question when his father finally chose to end the pain and suffering that had plagued him for over forty years.Dan Runion suffered from PTSD. He proudly served his country on the battlefields of Vietnam. Even though he came home, the war never truly ended in his mind. However, he kept his emotional pain hidden so that his family was unaware of the enduring battle taking place within him. In later years, his battle also included chronic physical pain that also took its toll. When Dan completed suicide, Jack and the rest of his family were in shock.Jack kept a journal to work through his emotions during this painful time. His guilt at not seeing his father's pain. His grief at being unable to give him a proper good-bye. A Bad Good-bye is a collection of Jack's journal entries and the bits of wisdom he has come to understand through the grieving process. This honest and open account of a father's suicide encourages anyone who has experienced a similar situation to deal with their loss and find support in the ones they love.

164 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 27, 2012