Wow. That was just...haunting. And quite interesting that Kevin would rather have been the one going through it, to save his partner from having to endure it all, but Javi wouldn't have traded places for anything, but for the exact same reason. They each have this need to protect the other. It's sweet, in its own way.

This line somehow encapsulates the whole thing for me:

Keep him from becoming a statistic—just one more among the disproportionately high numbers of undead suicides.

The idea that, but for the support of friends and family, this sort of thing would drive someone literally off a cliff...wow. I was teased as a child for being different, but I had friends and family to support me, so I don't know that I really felt isolated and alone. But I can see the effect it has on others who can't cope as well.

Great message wrapped in a truly wonderful story.