Notes of Love: Stories of Monica and Max - Aaron B.

Friends enjoying a beer together at Clark House, sharing smiles and good times.

Max and I began spending time together shortly after he relocated from Casa Grande, AZ to Hilliard, OH. We went to the Hilliard Darby High School together and were both in the class of 2010. I had lived in Hilliard my whole life and most the people I knew had too. The first time I went to Max’s house and spent a good amount of time with him I knew he was not like anybody I had ever met before. He shared with me about his life in Arizona, some of the trouble he had gotten into, his mother’s suicide, his tastes in music, and his relocation to Hilliard. His stories were shocking, yet I felt as though I could still relate to Max very closely. I remember he had a huge poster of Robert Johnson on his wall and he told me the legend of Robert selling his soul to the devil. Max took this opportunity to then show me his skills on the acoustic guitar, which were quite impressive.  Max also happily introduced me his rap freestyling skills as we smoked weed, told stories, and laughed late into what I had clearly forgotten was a school night. After this, Max and I spent a great deal of time together.

As we reached our later teenage years, Max and I became obsessed with two things: hip hop and parties. Max introduced me to a world of hip hop music that I did not know existed prior to meeting him. Much of this came from his familiarity of the Hip Hop scene on the West Coast. He introduced me to artists such as Mac Dre, Andre Nickatina, AZ, Big L, Souls of Mischief, Too $hort, and Nice & Smooth. Many of which remain among my favorite artists to this day. At parties, Max would never turn down the opportunity to highlight his freestyling skills in rap battles to the awe and applause of our friends. Max became infamous for his freestyling abilities and outrageous behavior.

Over the last year and a half of high school, the substances we were using became harder and the habits grew more problematic. The frequent parties became more of a daily lifestyle. Despite the constant intoxication and problems that resulted, Max’s love for music never ceased to shine through. He would apply his freestyling skills to beats made by other friends.  At parties he would sometimes shut off the blaring rap and begin playing the piano in his basement, a skill many never knew he had. 

In 2013, I had moved to Virginia with family and Max had returned to school at Columbus State. My substance use eventually led me to seek treatment and get sober in March of 2014. Despite the distance, Max and I kept in close contact and he was always supportive of my recovery. I was also getting back into college as at this time, so Max and I discussed the nuances of returning to college while juggling work and after many of our friends had already graduated. The prospect of both of us being back in school gave us something we did not have for a few years, which was a hope for a future brighter than our past. Tragedy then struck. Max passed away suddenly in October of 2015 at the age of 24 years old. His chance to finish school, continue to explore his passion for music, and grow into the person he wanted to become was cut short. Max’s life made a deep and everlasting impact on me, and this Scholarship Fund honors his legacy by allowing his life to positively impact others for years to come. 

-Aaron B.

Friend to Maxwell