Every time I think of you I can't help but smile. You were perfect. Your smile brought light into the darkness. Your laugh cracked a smile in the faces surrounding you. Your warmth kept me from needing a blanket throughout the winter. You were my best friend. You believed in me and always had my back. Your voice excitedly exclaiming "Little I" constantly replays in my head.

You had a good heart. You always saw the best in the worst. You protected the guilty and gave praise to the innocent. You did not have one unkind bone in your body.

But you had to go away, temporarily. I was so devastated. We all were. How could God take away an innocent soul? I had questions that were left unanswered and emotions that were anything far from fine. I could never understand the reason why good people had to leave this earth before it was their time.

I know you are constantly watching over me. I have hope that I will see you again and I pray you give me guidance in this next chapter of my life.

However, you did not deserve to leave like you did. It was unfair. I didn't even get to say goodbye. Maybe that is because it is not a goodbye. Perhaps, it is an "I'll see you later".

Three years later, I still think about you everyday. I know you are always with me. And I have been going through a really rough patch in my life that I wish you were here for. Maybe things would have been different.

I think a lot of things would have turned out differently. I held a lot of things in, especially the way you were withdrawn from this world.

But I know there will always be a piece in my heart missing until I see you again. Just one more time. I did not get to be apart of the farewell committee, however, I'm not sure if I should've been. But you had to go. God had plans for you. I still cannot quite understand why. I do not understand any of it. You should be here.

But I am grateful for the time we did share together. You were my rock. I will never forget you in a lifetime. You are so special to me. I love you.

And I will not cry anymore, because I know you wouldn't want me to be like this. I know you would want me to pursue my passions and chase my dreams. And that is exactly what I am going to do. For you, to be proud of me.

As my heart still aches for you, I watch the sun shine above your name on the ground, and I can't help but smile a little.