Dear Friend,

Your eyes, your mouth, your hair, your laugh, everything about you was too young. People aren’t supposed to just be gone at your age. In a perfect world, people die warm in their bed. It is true, accidents happen but this isn’t just a little accident, like spilling water on the floor or stepping on someone’s foot. This is a tragedy. This is horrific. This is irreversible.

I can’t accept the fact that you’re gone. You never used to get hurt. I never saw you fall or even stub your toe. That’s what I do. I stub my toe and curse. I fall down and laugh because you’re laughing at me. I get hurt. And you make me feel better. You’re the one who eases my pain. You’re the calm in the storm. I already miss you. I miss your random texts, I miss your smile and laugh, and I miss your awkward answers to my awkward questions. I miss the trouble we would get into together. I miss your crazy stories you’d tell me to make me laugh. I miss you.

From crazy times like maxing out my Volkswagen beetle, to times when we held each other because the world was too much. You were there. You’ve imprinted on the lives of many. You were loved by so many. And you are missed so dearly by so many. The wind continues to be knocked out of our chests and not because of a joke you told.

My beautiful friend, you left this world too soon. This Earth lost an Angel for Heaven to gain one. I know you would laugh at me for even saying something like that but it's true. You were a beautiful Angel. Even if you never saw it in yourself. I saw it. The world saw it. And I will forever remember you like that.

With so much love,

A Broken Heart

(In loving memory of Rachel Dettling)