Hi Poppy,

I’ve decided it’s time to write this after putting it off for almost a year now. I’m writing this letter not only to help console myself, but to reach out to you.

Throughout my life I always had someone to run to when I needed someone. I always had a safe place to run to, from your house to mine. As I walk through your house, the smell of your shampoo lingers and the memories come. Oh the memories, they always come in floods; from the good to the bad, from the fun to the boring. All that matters is that they were with you.

One of the worst things in life is losing someone. Sure I thought I had lost important people between all of the different friendship issues, but none of them compared to a loss such as you. Watching your life fade away was so heart-breaking; I honestly don’t know how I did it. Visiting you every day to just see such a lifeless body and hearing the updates from the hospital weren’t all that great either. After a few weeks I realized, your time was near. I didn’t know how to prepare myself for that day.

On August 22, 2015, around 10:30am I went to my room to get dressed to go out on the boat when the phone rang. I ran to grab it and give it my mom after noticing it was the hospital. I sat in my room and put my ear to the wall in hopes of hearing good news. Within a few minutes my world came crashing down. I heard my mom say, “Okay. Thank you.” And it just didn’t sound like a good thing. Immediately after hearing the phone click she says, “Sierra?” She was crying and it wasn’t often that she would cry after getting off the phone with the hospital. I knew the instant she hung up that you had gone. The only thing I could think to do was to cry.

It’s been a little over 10 months and I still have trouble believing you’re gone. Sometimes the dreams feel so real all I can do is cry. For a while all I did was cry; day in and day out. It’s gotten easier, but will things will never be the same.

I never imagined I would ever have to write such a letter like this. I never imagined life without my poppy. Growing up you seemed so invincible and untouchable, seeing you so weak broke my heart. Although you weren’t physically at my graduation, you were there in my heart. As I walked across the stage, I held back my tears as I knew you were watching over me. I now realize that you won’t be there when I go off to college. You won’t be here when I get married, and you’ll never get to meet my children and hold them as you once held me. But what I do know is, that I will see you again and I can’t wait for that glorious day.

Thank you for teaching me everything you knew, well at least about fishing. Thank you for helping me be the best me. Thank you for always encouraging me. But most importantly, thank you for being such an amazing Poppy.

One day we will be together again and I can’t wait. I miss you so very much. I will continue to make you proud and will always hold my head high.

Love you always,

Poppy’s little angel