RICHMOND, Va. -- They are paragraphs of pain. Anne Moss Rogers wishes her new book was a work of fiction.
"Diary of a Broken Mind: A Mother's Story, A Son's Suicide, and the Haunting Lyrics He Left Behind" is a memoir about her youngest son Charles.
"He was the most popular and funniest kid in school," Anne Moss said. "He was the kid who always wanted to make you feel welcomed. He never wanted to see you be sad and suffer."
Charles Rogers
But the fun-loving and compassionate teen was battling depression and addiction.
The family tried rehab and detox, but Charles was spiraling downward.
"I knew he was struggling, but I thought he would just come around," Anne Moss recalled. "I think we have to take every threat seriously."
Charles took his own life in a recovery house on June 5, 2015.
"You feel responsible. You feel like it's my fault," Anne Moss said.
Anne Moss Rogers
Since her son's death, Anne Moss has been speaking to teens and parents about mental illness, addiction, and suicide. But writing a book always beckoned.
"I didn't want other parents to go through what I went through," Anne Moss said. "It was something awful and the only choice I have is turning it into something good."
Charles, an aspiring rapper, co-authored the book, in a way. Anne Moss weaved her son's raw lyrics throughout the text.
I just want to apologize for all of my lies and when you stayed up traumatized
She yearns to normalize the conversation about suicide. Her most important advice:
Stop and listen.
"The real antidote is human connection and in this digital age we've lost that," she said.
"Diary of a Broken Mind" is raw, she admitted, but Anne Moss did not want to sugarcoat the subject.
"You never think, as a parent, that life is so bad for my child that they would kill themselves," she said.
The Rogers family
Anne Moss Rogers hopes exposing her dark journey will help others avoid similar tragedy, all while this author tries turning a page herself.
“I’m always wanting to save a life. Because I’m always trying to save Charles," Anne Moss said.
Forgive me momma I tried the fast life and got addicted Momma. Forgive me momma I wish I was different. Forgive me momma.
Anne Moss Rogers' book is available at Book People, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.
If you are dealing with suicidal thoughts there is help available right now. Call 1-800-273-8255.
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