To the one who is no longer here, I miss you- I've missed you since you left. I feel as if you are here, maybe you're not. However, I like to think you are. I miss the way you laughed at me laughing. Poking fun at my laugh because it was too loud or I laughed at the wrong time. Since you're no longer here, I've done some growing since you left. Both literal and metaphoric. I've grown a couple inches, and I've grown stronger. I think you'd be proud of me. You were always proud of me. I will always be proud of you, I know you tried.

Your birthday is coming up, you would've been waiting for that surprise birthday party you always knew about. With your friends hiding behind the couches and in the kitchen. You'd walk in and you'd pretend every year to be surprised. There isn't a day when I don't think about you. I miss you most when the sun is shining.

I can remember the way the sun shined on your face, and how your eyes captured the light. The way you would sit outside for hours to soak up the sun. You'd stay outside till the sun went down, and the mosquitos started to bite. Man, I miss those days. I try not reminisce, but when you lose someone like you, you can't help it. I would be lying if I said, I didn't look for you in everyone that I meet. On sunny days, I sometimes visit you. I'm not sure if you're there, however, I like to think you are. I find myself talking out loud, hoping you hear me. I tell you about my day, what I ate, how I'm doing, maybe even my dreams, and so much more. Some days I think about what you would say back to me. Asking me if my dreams were getting anymore strange. Or if I had met someone new today. You always knew me, and what to say to get me to talk. You knew me so well.

Your birthday is coming up. I won't receive an invitation again this year. I'll celebrate by myself, in hopes that you'll be there watching. I may even sing to you. There won't be a family- friend surprise party for you. I'm sure you'll have yourself a piece of cake wherever you are. I remember the way you would blush when everyone sang to you. Telling me to sing louder, only to hear my voice over everyone else's. I'll always remember you.

I don't talk about you much anymore. I've accepted that you're never coming home, and that I'll never spend another day in your room. I had never met someone like you. You will always be such a special person to me. To the one who is no longer here, you will always have a piece of me. Whether it be a home in my heart or a room in my brain, you'll always have a piece of me.