I changed high schools at the beginning of my sophomore year. One of my first friends there was someone who was always downright hilarious, always making the rest of us laughing out loud. Her parents were deeply religious Baptist evangelists, and I remember them coming over to meet my parents and inviting them to join them at their church when we first moved to this conservative, Mid-western town. After high school, my friend attended a Christian (Protestsnt) university in SC, well-known for its very conservative cultural and religious positions. For graduate school, she attended a "Christian institution of higher education" back in the Midwest. When it was time for her to get a job, she went to Seattle. Now in our mid-forties, she has never been married and has no children. She is active on Facebook, posting photos frequently, often with the same woman. She is a special ed. teacher, who works at an elementary school during the school year, as well as at a camp geared toward students with special needs during the summer. She seems to absolutely love what she does. In her posts, she usually sounds very happy, often reminding me of her perpetually upbeat self from high school. She seldom talks about her parents, who still live in the same little town in the Midwest, or her siblings, who remain in the same, Midwestern state, known for its particularly anti-gay position, especially in the recent months. I realize I'm stereotyping here, but I believe my high school friend to be gay. She doesn't say either way on FB, and she very well may not be, but if she is, I'm totally cool with that.
Could Jeremiah have been in a similar position? Here is a scenario I have come up with, though complete, pure conjecture:
Jeremiah is gay but isn't ready to come out to his family. He is asked to return to Michigan for his nephew's birthday. Jeremiah is in a relationship, and he tells his partner about his possible upcoming trip back home. His partner wants Jeremiah to take him along, and to introduce him to Jeremiah's family as his partner. Jeremiah wants to, but he isn't ready. He still wants to go to his nephew's birthday party (albeit sans his partner), but is afraid of making his partner angry. Feeling in a bind, Jeremiah doesn't know what to say to his sister (the nephew's mom), who has been asking him when he will visit. He feels as though no one understands. Feeling so alone, he decides he doesn't want to go on anymore. He is worried that once he disappears or after he is gone, someone may get a hold of his laptop, on which he has done a lot of corresponding with his partner, so as he leaves his apartment for one last time, he takes it with him.
Is there a lake, river, pier, etc. near where the last ping from his cell phone came from?