IN THIS ISSUE

There’s a song in the musical Hamilton, called ‘It’s Quiet Uptown’, that is an incredibly affecting ballad about grieving for a lost child. I can’t help hearing the chorus, which sings of learning to ‘live with the unimaginable’, whenever I think of Mel and Steve Jones. They have been doing just that since 22 August 2007, when their 11-year-old son Rhys was in the wrong place at the wrong time, caught in the middle of a gang feud, and killed by a stray bullet. My heart worst unimaginable. stops nightmare. for In the this Their Jones issue, shock family, Mel and speaks living horror every exclusively is truly parent’s to us about years, somehow how she and pieced her family their lives have, back over together. the past What 11 happens in the empty years, after the jury has delivered a verdict and the media has moved on to new headlines? If there is any redeemable part of this senseless tragedy, it’s that the Joneses fought for their marriage and, against considerable odds, have kept it intact and emerged, in many ways, a stronger couple. I want to thank Mel for trusting YOU magazine with her story and giving us the first look at an extract from her book, Stay With Me, Rhys. It is not an easy read, by any means, but it’s one that will leave you in awe of the inner strength of ordinary people catapulted into extraordinary situations. Enjoy the issue.

MY HEART STOPS FOR THE JONES FAMILY, LIVING EVERY PARENT’S WORST NIGHTMARE”

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