I have witnessed the devastating impact of gun violence since I was just thirteen years old 💔. At an age when the world should have felt safe and predictable, my life was shattered by a single phone call. That night marked the end of innocence, not only for me, but for my entire family. From that moment on, the reality of violence became deeply personal, leaving scars that would never fully fade.

My world changed the night my older brother, Marcus Stanley, was shot eight times in Baltimore, Maryland 🌑. Marcus was not just my brother — he was a gifted touring musician who shared his piano with countless artists 🎹✨. On April 2, 2004, he had simply gone out to buy snacks at a gas station when two strangers approached and opened fire. In a matter of seconds, everything he was and everything w

By grace and strength, Marcus survived 🙏💪, but survival came at a cost. The road to recovery was long, painful, and filled with uncertainty. Even today, he has no feeling in his right hand from the elbow up, a permanent reminder of that night. Each scar tells a story of loss, resilience, and the fragile line between life and death.

As I helped change his bandages, I once asked him if he felt anger or wanted revenge. His answer changed my heart forever. “I forgive them,” he said 🤍. In that moment, my rage softened into compassion. I realized that those who harm others are often deeply broken themselves 🌱. Forgiveness did not erase the pain, but it transformed it into something powerful and healing.

Now, when I see headlines about shootings across America 📰💔, I no longer see distant news stories. I see faces, families, and futures forever altered. Pulling a trigger takes only a second, but its impact lasts a lifetime ⏳. Violence does not end when the sirens fade; it lives on in bodies, memories, and hearts that must learn how to survive afterward.

Because of my brother’s courage and forgiveness, I have learned that meeting violence with anger only keeps the cycle alive. I am endlessly grateful that Marcus is still here today 🌟, using his life and his story to inspire others to keep moving forward, even after unimaginable pain 💖. His survival — and his mercy — taught me that healing is possible, and that hope can exist even in the aftermath of gunfire.