“Hello?”
“Patrik…Marshawn is gone.”
“What do you mean?”
“He died.”
*drops phone, tears fall*
——
I’ve tried so many times to find words since answering my phone early Thursday morning, but nothing qualifies to relay the devastation — the shattered heart knowing we had spoken not long before.
I’ve replayed so many of our talks in my mind since that call. The first day you arrived in Dallas wearing that huge smile, so ready to make your family and your mom proud, and you did.
The endless talks we had about comics, anime and gaming, always comparing notes on each topic and promising we’d squad up on Marvel Rivals next offseason when we both have time.
Time… the thing we tell ourselves we have but never truly do. 💔
The talks we had after you had a tough game or practice, or injury, still smiling, always smiling; and outwardly the eternal optimist even while you fought those demons that I am personally all too familiar with.
Mine nearly claimed me as well.
You fought them in the dark while always being the light for others, and that is your legacy: selflessness, graciousness, humility, kindness, authenticity and compassion.
Anyone who has ever caught us laughing during our talks or wondered where I was only to find us off to the side talking about so many different things knows I lost a little brother on Nov. 6, 2025.
And to know what I lost you to, given how passionately I advocate for mental health, will haunt my days until I see you again.
But, until I do, just know your passing will only embolden me to be even more unrelenting in preaching mental health, and especially for boys and men who think silence is strength when the opposite is true when help is needed.
And if that saves just one person, then you will not have passed in vain.
Rest peacefully, Shawn.
You told me a couple days prior: “OK bet, I’ll see you later, Pat!”
You will, but I still have work to do here first, and that includes making sure you’re never forgotten and that the memory of you never fades in people’s minds.
I am blessed to know I said the following to you while you were here to hear it, but one more time for old time’s sake:
“I love you, bro. Take care of yourself.” 🕊️
P.S. You win. Naruto is the best anime, and I was kidding, because you were always S-Rank. 🖤 #iykyk
You didn’t have to try to level solo, though.
No goodbyes. Ttyl.
Thank you for blessing me with your spirit, energy and existence.
- No C 😞
Eagles fans deadass spent all offseason on a world tour just for their QB to be a glorified Austin Ekeler on national television please get out of my face if you ever mention him in the top 5