Finding Light in the Shadows of Tragedy

Join me as I recount a day that will forever haunt my memories—a day when a young girl's scream shattered a peaceful afternoon stroll with my son. In this episode, you'll hear about the moment we discovered Emily's brother trapped in a smoke-filled house, only to find ourselves faced with a tragic reality that would change our lives. This heart-wrenching experience became a catalyst for deep reflection, stirring powerful conversations on loss, mental health, and the silent battles many endure alone. Gather your thoughts, and let’s navigate the emotional and spiritual journey that followed.

Through this poignant narrative, we explore the profound impact of Emily’s brother on our community, even in his quietude. His story serves as a stark reminder of the invisible struggles that so many face, urging us to offer compassion and support to those who may be suffering in silence. Listen in as I share the aftermath of this tragic event, the eerie presence I encountered, and the lessons learned about the unseen connections that bind us all. Together, let's uncover the importance of being there for those in need, and how spirituality can guide us through the complexities of life and loss.

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Episode Transcript

Jay Lane (00:01):
Get ready to be captivated and intrigued as we
delve into my life of spiritsand all things paranormal.
Join me, your host Jay Lane, onThe Laneway to Spirit, as I
share my stories and personalexperiences in the hopes of
inspiring others to exploretheir own spirituality.

(00:22):
Grab your favorite mug andsettle in, and let's get started
.

Speaker 2 (00:37):
I wanted to share a story that's had quite an effect
on me, even to this day, andit's something that happened
many years ago.
I was out for a walk with myson when I heard a frantic
scream.
It was a young girl screaming,and the sound cut through the
quiet afternoon.

(00:57):
It was raw, it was panicked,and as my son and I approached
her, she looked shaken.
She was very small, she wastrembling and her eyes were
filled with tears.
And without thinking, I told myson to go get his dad, because
I knew something was reallywrong and I couldn't leave this

(01:18):
girl alone.
Her distress just got to me,and as I tried to calm her down,
I noticed smoke drifting upfrom the direction of her house.
The little girl's name wasEmily, and her voice shook as
she said that her brother wasstill inside, and I felt a knot
in my stomach.
I knew I had to act fast, so Iquickly asked the neighbor who

(01:41):
was approaching us if she couldtake care of Emily.
Her name was Mrs Thompson andthen I hurried towards the house
.
I was scared, but I wasdetermined and I'm not usually
one to run into danger butreally there was no time to
waste, and so when I got intothe house, I walked into the

(02:03):
kitchen first and the air wasthick with a nasty smoke smell
and of course my eyes werescanning the room and landed on
the stove and there was a pot ofKraft dinner which had boiled
over and the noodles wereburning at the bottom of the pot
, making a huge mess.
But this was in contrast to thechaos that I felt in the air

(02:27):
and without even thinking, Igrabbed the pot and I threw it
in the sink.
I turned on the cold water fullblast to put out the fire that
had started on the inside and asthe water rushed in, I opened
the window.
I was desperate to get thesmoke out of the house.
I was in the middle of thechaos when I saw him, just a

(02:49):
quick shadow, a young guywalking past me with a sad look
on his face, and he was movingfast, like he was in a hurry,
and he just went right throughthe wall like it wasn't even
there, and that was reallyunsettling for me.
I mean, I couldn't shake thefeeling that something was
really wrong on the other sideof that wall and I felt this

(03:12):
pull like I needed to go checkit out.
So I went deeper into the house, following my instincts, to the
source of that unease.
As I stepped into the next room, I was hit with a sight that
I'll never forget.
There on the bed was the youngman Emily's brother, and I froze

(03:36):
for a second.
I was struggling to breathe andit was clear that he was gone.
And the awful truth hit me hardhe had taken his own life,
leaving behind the chaos in thehouse and a terrified Emily
outside.

(03:56):
I later learned that Emily hadbeen making him lunch, some
Kraft dinner a simple act ofcare that turned into a
nightmare for her.
And she went in and she foundhim and her instincts were to
run outside, unable to face whathad happened was not a pretty
sight.
I mean, my heart broke for herand the weight of this loss that

(04:20):
she'd have to carry, and inthat moment I felt the deep
despair hanging in the air whichsuffocated me.
After I left the room, I foundEmily outside with Mrs Thompson,
and Emily was shaking with sobsand I felt the need to protect
her and I knelt down and Iwrapped my arms around her and I

(04:41):
tried to comfort her, but Iknew inside my heart there was
nothing that I could say thatcould heal the pain that she was
feeling, that I could say thatcould heal the pain that she was
feeling.
The ambulance, the policefinally arrived and I left
shortly after that.
In the days after, the wholeneighborhood was talking about

(05:04):
what had happened.
I mean, emily's brother hadbeen a quiet kid, but everyone
felt for him.
It was crazy how our livescould be so connected without us
realizing it.
Hearing about his strugglesreally hit home for our
community and people startedtalking more and more about
mental health and the battlesthat so many people face.

(05:27):
Silently, I watched as theneighborhood rallied around
Emily and her family, bringingthem meals, hugs and tears of
support.
As the days turned into weeks,I couldn't stop thinking about
that day.
I mean the rush into danger,the spirit I saw, the life that
was lost.

(05:48):
It was a harsh reminder of howfragile life is and how
important it is to reach out toeach other.
Suicide is not an easy topic andif you've been touched by it in
any way, you know how deeply itcan affect you.
It's like a wound that doesn'talways heal cleanly and it

(06:10):
leaves a scar not just on theperson who died but also for the
people they've left behindtheir family, their friends,
anyone who cared about them.
So if you've been close tosomeone who has died by suicide,
you're not alone.
The experience can leave youfeeling a mix of confusion,

(06:33):
anger, guilt and sadness.
It's a whole storm of emotionsall at once, and it can feel
incredibly isolating, likeyou're the only one who
understands what you're goingthrough.
The first thing to remember isthat there's no set timeline for
healing.
Everyone processes griefdifferently and there is no

(06:57):
right way to feel.
Some days you might feel okayand others the pain can come
crashing back, and it's okay tohave those ups and downs.
What's important is toacknowledge your feelings and
not to try to suppress them.
Allow yourself to cry, allowyourself to be angry and to feel

(07:18):
whatever you need to feel.
It's like tending to a physicalwound If you ignore it, it
won't heal properly.
So you need to give yourselfthe time and space to look at
what happened.
Healing isn't about gettingover it.
It's about finding a way tolive with the grief, to

(07:39):
integrate it into your life andto move forward, and one
important step is to connectwith others.
Talking to those who've gonethrough similar experiences can
make a huge difference.
There are support groupsspecifically for suicide
survivors, where you can shareyour feelings with others who

(08:00):
understand.
It's a safe place to bevulnerable and to know that
you're not alone in your pain.
If you have supportive friendsand family, great talk to them
too, even if they haven'texperienced the same loss.
Simply feeling heard andvalidated can help.

(08:21):
Another aspect of healing is totake care of yourself.
This might sound simple, but itcould be incredibly powerful.
But it could be incrediblypowerful.
Make sure that you eat well,get enough sleep and to engage
in some sort of physicalactivity.
These things help to regulateyour mood and to give you a
sense of control when everythingelse feels chaotic.

(08:44):
Remember to do things thatbring you joy, even when it
feels hard.
Maybe it's listening to musicor spending time in nature,
pursuing a hobby you enjoy.
Small acts of self-care can belike little anchors in a storm.
Some people find the comfort ina sense of peace by seeking out

(09:05):
a medium, someone who is able tocommunicate with spirits of
those who have passed on, andit's important to approach this
with an open mind and somecaution.
If you're curious, researchmediums and try to find someone
reputable.
Some people find that a mediumcan help them feel connected

(09:26):
with their loved ones who havepassed, which can contribute to
the healing process.
It might offer a sense ofclosure, a chance to say
unfinished words or perhaps findsome understanding.
It's important to note thatthis isn't something everyone
will find helpful, and that'sperfectly okay.

(09:47):
What matters is finding avenuesthat work for you in your
healing journey.
Healing from this experience ofsuicide is a personal journey
and there's no one-size-fits-allapproach.
It's about acknowledging yourfeelings, leaning on support
systems, practicing self-careand exploring options that might

(10:10):
bring you comfort and peace.
Whether it's talking with atherapist, joining a support
group or even exploring theservices of the medium.
Finding what works for you iskey.
If you've been left with thescar of a suicide experience,
please know that you're notalone and and there is a path to

(10:32):
healing.
Even if it feels blurry rightnow, you deserve kindness and
compassion and with time andeffort, you can find peace again
.
There is hope even in thedarkest of times.
Thank you so much for listeningin.
I love you guys all so much.
Until next time.
We'll talk to you again realsoon.

(10:53):
Bye-bye.

Jay Lane (10:56):
Thanks for listening in.
I hope you enjoyed today'sLineway to Spirit.
To learn more about me, visitmy website at mediumjaylane.
com or my socials on Facebookand Instagram.