accidental death), I always have the same thought...

Whether you believe in God or evolution or whatever...that person is the combined experience, effort, thoughts, memories, experiences of thousands upon thousands of people over millions and millions of years of ancestors. You're here because some 8th great grandfather was narrowly missed by a sword in some nameless muddy battle in Scotland in the 1500s, or a 3rd great grandma who didn't get cancer until after she had your ancestor rather than before, or because a specific early early human mated with a very specific other early early human in a cave in France 28,000 years ago...or because...or because...or because.... Billions of tiny events occurred so you are here.

You have the blood sweat and tears of parents, grandparents, and siblings who thought about, stressed about, and loved this person. The moment his grandpa stood in the living room of a quiet house wondering how he would pay the bills. The moment his great great grandfather decided to board a ship and come to America. The moment his parents bought him a bike and took him to Disneyland. The efforts of millions of years went into that one person, are woven into his DNA and are part of his being. He has memories, laughs, tears, a crush, and immense potential...all gone in a moment.

And then he makes a split second decision (likely while compromised by alcohol) and is dead. All of that is gone forever...or at least are taken from him in mortality. All of those millions of years of decisions, potential, effort, memories, and improvement...gone and obliterated in an instant.

It's just crazy.