I never thought my life would have brought me to this point. Standing alone in the cemetery looking down and the resting place for my first love. One act of violence led to his death, something that could have been prevented. I know what the narrative will be. It has been the Same thing for a week. The headlines read: “Shawn Jackson, man identified in the shooting, killed in act of violence.” They always leave out the part that he was In his yard cooking on the grill, while I was playing in the pool with his daughter he had just put burger on the grill for the holiday weekend. His three year old daughter saw everything this poor child will be traumatized from watching her dads best friend drive by an shot her father.

****One week ago ****

The day began like any other day i got up and went for a 5am run. When i got home i called my boyfriend of one year. Planning for the cookout we were having it is the Fourth of July so we were planning a party with our families so i went to his place to help set up and this was a double party because his daughter Lyla turns three today when I met Shawn he had just gotten out of a hard relationship. His ex walked away from him and their two year old daughter. Today she turns three. We wanted to show her how loved she is so i planned a Fourth of July party and a birthday party her theme this year is rainbow. She loves everything pretty and rainbow.

As I got everything ready he went to get the grill ready and me and Lyla went to get in the pool. We were splashing around and time passed we were just two people in love getting ready to celebrate Lyla. As he began to put food on the grill everything changed. A black care that we knew drove by and began firing shots. I grab Lyla and move her behind me the car passed and he shots stopped. Four shots fired. One at th grill one hit the window of the house and the other two hit Shawn i grabbed Lyla and pulled her out of the pull grabbed my phone and called 911. I tried to stop the bleeding, what happened next will tick in my mind forever. He looked at me and said “i love you Jade, I was going to marry you. Make sure lyla knows how much i loved her.” As he took his final breaths i help his hand his head propped in my lap screaming for anyone that could hear me.

A few days later i had gotten a call to retrieve his belongings they found in his pocket. I wet to get the items he had on him: a wallet, his house key, and a small black box with a note attached to it.

The box had a beautiful diamond ring and the note read this’

Jade Marie Jordan, the love of my life. I have never loved anyone more than you. You are the most amazing person i have ever met. You came into my life at the darkest moment. Thank you for loving me and Lyla more than anything, this has been the year of my life. Today

I make it official

Today on July 4, 2020 i will ask you Jade to marry me.