Epitaph

As I clenched the paper in my hand and tried to fight back tears the only thing running through my mind was: How could this have happened? He was seventeen. We were so close to being done with high school. We were so close to being free.   I opened the paper with shaky hands.
“He died as he lived. Carefree and ungarded.”
“But he died too soon.”
“Now I stand here before you all-” I couldn't finish my sentence. I turned to the tombstone and read the inscription.
As Above. So Below.