An Unimaginable Pain

The other day, a 24 year old man set himself on fire in Longfellow Square.  I learned yesterday that he is my co-workers son who is clearly going through a tough time right now.  He has been for a while, but this still came out of left field for his parents.  I feel horrible and there is nothing I can do. This is what keeps going through my mind...how horrible does one have to feel to want to torture themselves to death?  I mean, it' horrible enough when someone feels they have no option but to take their own life.  But he felt like he had to inflict pain beforehand. Or...as a witness said in an interview...it's like he needed to physically show the pain he was feeling inside.  Can you imagine that much pain?  It  makes me choke up.  And now he lies in Boston, already having had two (of I'm sure many) skin grafts.  His family must talk to him through plastic, and can reach in the plastic to touch his swollen face.  He hears them, and wiggles his toes. And his mother's prayer right now is that he doesn't feel any pain.  It's days like these where I count my many blessings, and wish that others had half the fortune I have.  Why isn't it spread out more?  It seems so unbalanced at times.  Why is my family from free emotional instability?  I mean - we've absolutely had our challenges.  But they were always temporary.  And I always knew it was temporary. How'd I get so lucky?  So, if you have some thoughts and prayers to spare, please send them to David.  He has a long road ahead of him, both mentally and physically.