This will be the first Christmas without you, and I know it will be the hardest. When I think of my past Christmas’s, I instantly think of all the years I spent celebrating the holiday at your house, opening presents and eating with the family. Although this Christmas I will probably still open presents and eat dinner, one key factor will be missing; you.

This Christmas, the table will have one less chair, one less voice, and one less heart spreading love all throughout the room. I’m sure we’ll all laugh and talk about recent events in our lives, but in the back of our minds, we’ll all be wishing you were here to add in your two cents, even if we sometimes (most of the time), really didn’t want to hear it.

This Christmas will be my first Christmas without one of my best friends, and the thought of celebrating something almost makes me sick. However, I know that is the exact opposite of what you would have wanted. Although the mere thought of singing Christmas songs makes me want to burst into tears, I will remain strong this holiday season; a skill a learned from you.