October 5, 2019, I was on the way to a deployed location with a six hour layover in Atlanta. Ironically, this would also be the last time I would see my brother Marius “Byron” in person. A month prior to the deployment I attended a three day training in South Carolina and remember him calling several times, with “hey what’s up big bro....how long you there for...trying to find a way to come out to see you!”
A hurricane was also heading towards SC...yet, we were still trying to make plans to meet halfway...especially after I caught wind of an emotional conversation he had with my parents in which he felt that “he’d never see me again.” At the time, I had been in Japan for about a year and we would often discuss the next time I’d visit...
I remember his phone calls and the desperation in his voice when we tried to find time while I was in SC for us to meet halfway...y’all should of seen us doing “public math”....how many hours to travel to location “x” and how much time we’d get to visit before returning back to our origins of travel. Our plan did not work out as I had to return to Japan two days later...
Back in Japan, I had less than a month to spend time with my family and to get my affairs in order. During this time, I received an email with details of an airline ticket change, which extended my layover in Atlanta for 6 hours. Initially, I complained because I wanted to hurry, get to Norfolk VA, shower, shave, and get into uniform...for the military flight to my final destination. Then I thought to myself “Look at God”...I called my parents to let them know that I’d be in Atlanta for an extended amount of time and if they could bring him down...it would be a chance to make up for the debacle the month prior.
My travels took me from home station to Tokyo and into Atlanta. I cleared customs and called my parents who were stuck in the busy Atlanta traffic. I was excited to see them upon arrival...hopped into the backseat like a kid, and rode off to the hotel with my family!
The opportunity to see my brother, and unknowingly watch our last football game together (Tennessee lost to Georgia 14 - 43) felt amazing! However, there was a certain uneasiness about everything and the expression that Byron wore upon his face...told it all. He appeared tired and his usual laughter was a quick “huff”...he knew that this would be our last time together. As time drew near for me to catch my next flight...we took a few of the posted photos together. His normal wide smile shown as a quick flash for the camera. My parents pulled up to the zone for departures and Byron stepped out of the vehicle and we embraced for the last time. I told him that I’d see him when I returned home...as we were making plans to visit the following summer. I told him that things would be alright and that I loved him.
Honestly, I feel as though I lied to him. As an older sibling, you want to always show toughness and leadership...even at your weakest moments. I remember shedding tears as I walked through the terminal on my way to the next destination. I really thought that I told him the truth as we spoke often during my deployment. We laughed, text, joked, and I would confide in him...sometimes it felt as though he was the big brother. Our last conversation was on his birthday 12 April and on 16 April, I received news while down range that he was in ICU, but in stable condition...and I flew from the deployed location home about a week later when things got worse. On 29 April...I lost one of the best parts of growing up and God knows it still hurts as though it were yesterday.
Throughout my career, he was always someone I could confide in whenever I had a bad day or needed a laugh. He was always strong and put others before himself...he knew the meaning of living life. God knows I miss him, but I know he’s now safe...happy...and watching over us. He visited me a couple days ago in a dream and showed me so. #RestInLove #KingMariusByron
