Such a tragic story, beautifully written. I’m left with an image of that swing, once full of hope—now empty, surrounded by haze, moved gently by the breeze.
This is a stunningly powerful piece of writing, Kate. The way you dissect the cold, clinical vocabulary of institutions-words like "brawl" and "melee" that try to flatten human tragedy into a statistics report-is absolutely brilliant and devastating. "Paul was not the melee. He was nineteen, almost back to the ship, and he was supposed to come home." That line is an absolute gut punch. It’s an incredibly moving, beautiful tribute to his memory. Thank you for welcoming me to your space, so glad to be subscribed! 🤍
Thank you so much. That means a lot. That was exactly what I was trying to untangle, how quickly institutional language can turn a person into an incident. He wasn’t the melee. He was Paul. I’m so glad that came through, and I’m really glad you’re here. 🤍
Melee would be used to describe a fight in a broad, non-descriptive way. I thought this was an honest question, until I realize there was a post attached. This is a terrible story, not in the writing, but in the fact that this actually happened. A great piece.
The question I found myself returning to wasn’t “what is a melee?” but “who was he before he became a story people summarized with one word?” How sad and cruel to reduce an entire life to a headline, while the people who loved that person remember a son, a cousin, a friend, and a future that never got to happen. That's why I think the tittle landed the hardest for me.
I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to revisit that loss while standing in the presence of another. Thank you for sharing this with us
This was so moving. I'm very sorry this happened to your cousin.
Thank you for bringing Paul back to life on the page as nineteen, hopeful, and filled with dreams of the future on those swings. I’m grateful you honored him this way. Everyone deserves to be remembered as the version of themselves that was loved.
Beautifully written and you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Thank you so much. That means a lot. I wanted Paul remembered as nineteen, loved, hopeful, and fully alive, not just as an incident. I really appreciate you reading it so thoughtfully.
Oh my. The stories we carry. I'm so sorry this happened to your cousin. The thought of him leaving home and exploring the world just to wind up at the wrong place at the wrong time.....that is just horrifying. It makes me think of my son who is also destined to Portugal/Spain. This terrifies me. I can't imagine being the mother of the child killed overseas senselessly. There is no coming back from that, you are right. Some things in this life make no sense, are so unjustifiably unfair and make you question everything.
Thank you so much. I don’t want this to make you afraid for your son, but I understand why it would. Paul should have come home. That unfairness is the part I can’t get past. Wishing your son a safe and beautiful trip.
This is an incredibly powerful, and painful piece. It's extremely well written and definitely gave me a gut punch this morning. Your visuals were poignant and filled me with a sense of dread. Got me sniffling and brought me to tears. I'm so sorry for the loss your family has had to endure due to this tragedy.
Thank you so much. This one was hard to write, but I really wanted people to feel him as a person and not just as some awful headline or “incident.” I appreciate you reading it so closely.
This is so poignant and powerful. I'm so sorry to hear about this senseless thing that happened to your cousin and the effect it had on all of you. Sending a hug your way.
This is one of the most intense and gripping pieces I've read from you. It's so tragic, but I couldn't stop. It's terrible what happened to him. Awful.
wow thank you so much!!! maybe it was that 8 hour car ride home with it percolating in my brain. Or the articles I hunted down, all telling a different story. I'm trying to find a report from the Portugal newspaper but it's proving difficult. thanks so much for your kind words and reading so carefully! 🧡
What a horrible, senseless murder! So sorry for your loss.
Such a tragic story, beautifully written. I’m left with an image of that swing, once full of hope—now empty, surrounded by haze, moved gently by the breeze.
thank you so much, I truly appreciate you reading. I think about the swings a lot
And today someone shared a photo of a giant tree with an empty swing swinging in the wind. Maybe someone’s trying to tell me something.
😇 I love it when the universe speaks to us in swings 💫🌸
Found it! https://substack.com/@dearlaurajoy/note/c-261716499?r=1xg3uj&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
This is a stunningly powerful piece of writing, Kate. The way you dissect the cold, clinical vocabulary of institutions-words like "brawl" and "melee" that try to flatten human tragedy into a statistics report-is absolutely brilliant and devastating. "Paul was not the melee. He was nineteen, almost back to the ship, and he was supposed to come home." That line is an absolute gut punch. It’s an incredibly moving, beautiful tribute to his memory. Thank you for welcoming me to your space, so glad to be subscribed! 🤍
Thank you so much. That means a lot. That was exactly what I was trying to untangle, how quickly institutional language can turn a person into an incident. He wasn’t the melee. He was Paul. I’m so glad that came through, and I’m really glad you’re here. 🤍
Melee would be used to describe a fight in a broad, non-descriptive way. I thought this was an honest question, until I realize there was a post attached. This is a terrible story, not in the writing, but in the fact that this actually happened. A great piece.
I do appreciate your answer though.
I thought this was a direct question too. 🤷 oh well. Social media at it finest
I appreciate this, I honestly didn't know what melee was before reading these articles about my cousin
The question I found myself returning to wasn’t “what is a melee?” but “who was he before he became a story people summarized with one word?” How sad and cruel to reduce an entire life to a headline, while the people who loved that person remember a son, a cousin, a friend, and a future that never got to happen. That's why I think the tittle landed the hardest for me.
I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to revisit that loss while standing in the presence of another. Thank you for sharing this with us
This was so moving. I'm very sorry this happened to your cousin.
Thank you for bringing Paul back to life on the page as nineteen, hopeful, and filled with dreams of the future on those swings. I’m grateful you honored him this way. Everyone deserves to be remembered as the version of themselves that was loved.
Beautifully written and you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Thank you so much. That means a lot. I wanted Paul remembered as nineteen, loved, hopeful, and fully alive, not just as an incident. I really appreciate you reading it so thoughtfully.
A Bar Brawl. Hand to Hand fist fight. Look up the Cinderella Man
do you hear that word used outside of reports? Just curious because I've never heard it used in reference, just brawl like you said or riot.
The piece is exquisitely composed. So sorry for your loss. It's a really horrible and sad story.
Oh my. The stories we carry. I'm so sorry this happened to your cousin. The thought of him leaving home and exploring the world just to wind up at the wrong place at the wrong time.....that is just horrifying. It makes me think of my son who is also destined to Portugal/Spain. This terrifies me. I can't imagine being the mother of the child killed overseas senselessly. There is no coming back from that, you are right. Some things in this life make no sense, are so unjustifiably unfair and make you question everything.
Thank you so much. I don’t want this to make you afraid for your son, but I understand why it would. Paul should have come home. That unfairness is the part I can’t get past. Wishing your son a safe and beautiful trip.
beautifully written. Heartbreaking story. Glad you posted.
thank you so much!
A quiet, powerful piece about how real people get flattened into headlines
The writer makes you feel Paul as a person not just the melee and how grief never really leaves it just sits beside you on the swings
thank you so much for seeing that and commenting ❤️
This is an incredibly powerful, and painful piece. It's extremely well written and definitely gave me a gut punch this morning. Your visuals were poignant and filled me with a sense of dread. Got me sniffling and brought me to tears. I'm so sorry for the loss your family has had to endure due to this tragedy.
Thank you so much. This one was hard to write, but I really wanted people to feel him as a person and not just as some awful headline or “incident.” I appreciate you reading it so closely.
Of course, I appreciate you sharing and bringing it to my attention so I could!
Hate the events in the story, but glad to see you telling it. In keeping his name alive and in sharing it with us. I'm so sorry it happened!
thank you so much. it's been bothering me for a very long time
This is so poignant and powerful. I'm so sorry to hear about this senseless thing that happened to your cousin and the effect it had on all of you. Sending a hug your way.
This is one of the most intense and gripping pieces I've read from you. It's so tragic, but I couldn't stop. It's terrible what happened to him. Awful.
I think you should keep sending to agents.
wow thank you so much!!! maybe it was that 8 hour car ride home with it percolating in my brain. Or the articles I hunted down, all telling a different story. I'm trying to find a report from the Portugal newspaper but it's proving difficult. thanks so much for your kind words and reading so carefully! 🧡