There is not one single day that goes by without me thinking about my son, my firstborn- AJ Betts.

July 27, 2026 by Sheryl J. Moore

Thirteen years ago today, you seemed happy.

You gave me a ride home.

You hugged me.

Did I tell you I love you? I don’t recall.

You complained that the kids from school were telling you that you were going to h*ll for being gay.

“Do you want me to pull you out of the school, because I would do it today if you asked?” I questioned.

“No. I am pretty sure it’s not okay to be gay anywhere,” you replied.

It was so wrong, but also so right.

We left to go get dinner.

Later, the neighbor would tell us you were doing cartwheels in the backyard and playing with the dogs less than an hour before the paramedics arrived.

And then- you just left us.

Your suicide hurts me every day, AJ Betts.

There is not one single day that goes by without me thinking about my son, my firstborn- AJ Betts. You should be here. -sjm