Kayleigh Palmer, A Truly Tragic Loss

It was on Saturday morning that I heard of Kayleigh's death, after having been kept in the loop throughout the week from a string of her friends.

I don't quite know how to properly word what I'm about to write, I'm not usually good at being particularly emotive about things, but, I digress.

I never really knew Kayleigh, as popular as that sentence is or has become. She was in the year below me at Cleeve School and only a few weeks ago had I managed to put a face to a name.

At first, In a strange sense, I didn't know how to react or feel in response to her death, she had never spoken to me, we had just exchanged mutual smiles at a bus stop one morning or she had opened the door for me in school.

Yet, that's when it hit me. The first time I have truly been deeply, sickeningly affected by the death of someone who wasn't relatively close to me in my life.

Death is the last enemy: once we've got past that I think everything will be alright.
Alice Thomas Ellis

I will not have it said, by anyone, that Kayleigh Palmer was not anything other than absolutely lovely. Every time I ever saw her she walked with a smile on her face radiating nothing other than pure happiness, never have I seen her sad, nor upset, nor angry, nor have I ever seen her be rude or spiteful to another person. Which is a thousand times more than I can say for the rest of the teenage population.

My deepest sympathies go out to her friends, family and loved ones. She, in my mind, was one of the most pleasant and lovely people I have ever had the pleasure of being an acquaintance of.

I had intended also, on giving an unbiased and totally neutral perspective on the events of last week, alas, I shall let my writing and emotions free-flow. 

There is nothing more utterly stomach churning than the thought of her boyfriend committing such an absolute atrocity. 

I have always been content with the fact that Cheltenham is relatively sleepy little town which gets busy for one week of the year and has it's fair share of scumbags. But this? This has truly changed my perspective on what people are really capable of, I am unabashedly appalled that another human being was able to commit the act so knowingly.

It breaks my heart to know that Kayleigh, whom was only 16, has lost not only her entire life, but her child and all of the potential that came along with her. 

Once again, my deepest condolences go out to her family and friends, it is beyond a tragic loss not only for her family, but Cleeve School. I truly pray that she is in a better place than the dark world we live in.

The dead cannot cry out for justice. It is a duty of the living to do so for them.

Lois McMaster Bujold