Losing a best friend is something we will all go through at least once in our life. In my case, losing means death, and my best friend was my grandpa. Losing my grandpa was one of the hardest things I have gone through.

Halloween will forever and always be one of my favorite and least favorite holidays.This year marks seven years since I lost my grandfather. It’s crazy to think how fast time flies, but that doesn’t make it any easier. It feels like yesterday I was in the hospital room with him and the rest of my family, and him writing on his little white board that he wanted me to get my haircut and get a halloween costume and go spend the night with my friends. The urge to resist his orders were so high in that moment but I knew he just wanted me to be happy, so I did what he told me to do.

See, my grandpa meant everything to me. He helped raise me, I lived with him, he taught me everything I needed to know in life. He taught me how to respect others, he taught me how to be social, he taught me how to be a functional human being, and my favorite part, he spoiled me. I had everything I could have ever needed. A loving home, a dog, toys, a tv, a bed, an always stocked fridge, trips to Hawaii, trips to the midwest, literally everything.

I remember leaving the hospital, kissing him goodbye, telling him I would see him the next day, and regretting my decision of leaving. I did have a great time with my friends that night, until I saw three crows pass over me late at night, to me at the time it was a sign that something was wrong. To me now, it was a sign of telling me that my grandpa had took his last breath in this life.

It’s crazy how much changed after he passed away. My best friend was gone. We had to sell our house, my dad and I moved into an apartment, nothing was really the same. To this day, I have not been back to Hawaii. It would bring too many emotions back for me that I’ve been trying to cover up for seven years. Now, I know what you’re thinking, it’s just an Island… Well it’s not. To me, behind the chain of islands, is home to years of memories. It was his home growing up, and it was my getaway time. It was our island.

I still think of him everyday. I still think about how my life would be if he were still here. Death is such a horrible thing but to look at the bright side, it brings many good things to your life as well. I most likely would have never been able to get through losing my best friend if I didn’t have my aunt, even more so, a huge loving family. I also believe my grandpa led me to meeting my neighbors who I now consider my “adopted family.” Somehow he must have known that they would love and care for me just like one of their own.

So here I am, a senior in high school, knowing he is up in heaven now looking down on me and making sure I am being taken care of, and making sure my aunt will spoil me just like he did. I would do anything for him to be back with me, but I know that cannot happen, so for now, I am okay with him looking over me. Rest in Heaven Spike, I will always love you.