What people said, unprompted.

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Of everything written about Joel, this letter tells us the most.

It came from Roberto, his friend and teammate, in the weeks after Joel died — written by a teenager, to a family he barely knew, about things he had no reason to tell anyone. It is the closest thing we have to seeing Joel through the eyes of someone his own age.

Dear Byrnes,

I'm not sure how to start this. Trying to write this has been the hardest thing I've ever had to do. From the depths of my heart, I'm sorry for your loss. I can't imagine the level of pain you must be feeling right now. I wish you could see how saintly a person he was at school. There was no individual like him. With every goofy little thing he did, there was a warm, passionate heart behind it.

Joel strived for things the majority of teenagers wouldn't even consider, myself included. Joel was always the first one on the field. Joel was always the last one off. Often, he'd sprint there just to realize he forgot his helmet and sprint back to the locker room. Yet somehow he would still always make it before everyone else. He always spent his time before practices on every little detail he felt needed work. Whether it be punting, place kicking, tackling, or route running, it didn't matter. I can without a doubt say that Joel was the most hardworking.

Not only that, but Joel is the only person I knew who sought to help out others. He wouldn't just take any opportunity to help around the field — he would look for more as well. Within practice and outside. Every other day, after 8th period, I would meet him at his classroom and always, without fail, find him putting away all the leftover chairs. After putting away the chairs we would talk about our days, girls, sports, music — mostly girls. He did these things with no idea of self-benefit in mind, and that was visible. Every little act of pure selflessness Joel gave to this world was beautiful. It spoke to his character. From the first moment, I realized that Joel was something else.

The most beautiful moment I had ever shared with Joel was the afternoon before one of our games.

I had finished getting changed early and went to the locker room hallway to wait for our coach's arrival. There was only one person who had been waiting there before me. Joel was sat down, reading the Bible. In that moment of realization, my heart lifted in a weird kind of way.

I came and sat next to him. We sat in silence as he read. Once he had finally finished, we talked. I expressed to him how cool it was and he would brush it off as if it was nothing. He would hold no pride nor shame. Just a pure goal to become closer to Him. As a Christian myself, I took for granted how important this was. They would tell us consistently in the church of its importance, but it's rare to find a teenager who would strive to do such things. Following our short conversation, Joel would find a quiet space and meditate on what he had read. It was a weird feeling. It was inspiring in so many different ways I was unsure how to react. It made me smile. He was so casual about all of it. It wasn't uncommon for him. It was religious.

Joel meant so much to me as a friend. I know the stories are redundant, but I want to share as much as I can. Prior to football season, Joel and I had a meet-up in Clifton. Fall had been around the corner so we figured we would get into the game a little. We tossed around a football. We played some basketball, and it was clear that, to be fairly honest, I was a pretty poor athlete. This didn't change the way Joel thought of me. As the season came along, a lot of people would look down on me, but Joel had always been positive. His only criticism was to himself. When we would be celebrating his accomplishments on the field, he would always be talking about what he could have done better — and yet when I messed up he would congratulate me on what I had done right, out of genuine understanding, not pity.

Throughout the entire football season, he was the teammate I considered closest. The preseason lunches, selling fundraising cards in random neighborhoods, all the times we lifted together, the away game talks on the bus, all the times we sat beside each other and watched film. Oh, and another thing — he was the only individual I had seen review another team's game film before playing them. He would analyze every part of their offense that he could. The commitment was unreal. It blew me away. It showed in his performance as well. Joel was a beast on the field.

I'm sorry I got sidetracked. I really just wanted to say that there was a long period of time where I really doubted myself, and Joel was nothing but encouraging. It was extremely difficult not to love Joel, and that's something I believe everyone who knew him can confirm. He was the goofiest, most lovable, genuine friend in my life.

It hurts losing him. These last nights I've spent mourning till my eyes went dry. I had been lightheaded, I could feel my eyes throbbing, and my heart had sunk. I wish I was able to tell him how much he meant to me. I wish he knew how much he had done for me.

Going forward, I want to strive to be like Joel was. I want to over-accomplish. I want to be the first one on the field. I want to be the last one off. I want to push myself with God. I want to do everything I can to help people despite what others think. I wish I could find a way to describe every perfect thing that Joel was, and I'm willing to do anything I can to honor his life.

Joel left an imprint on every person he talked to. I envy heaven. Joel was an angel. It's as if God just wanted him home.

With love and with sorrow, sincerely,