Memories and good times are what make life special and wonderful. They can be accompanied by numerous emotions and feelings. When you lose someone special to you, the memories will always remain in your heart and in your mind. Here's the truth about those memories and why you should always hold on.

I'll never be able to look at that car without thinking of you and the memories we made. I'll never forget the albums we listened to on repeat and the freedom of the wind blowing in my hair when you picked me up from school. You could make a Tuesday feel like a Friday and you could brighten my day with a simple story of your trip to the grocery store. I'll never be able to come across cute pictures of your favorite type of dog without wanting to share it on your Facebook page, even though I know I won't get to see your sweet comment back. I think about you so many times in every day, it seems like these things didn't even affect me when I still had you in my life.

The holidays are the worst because you loved them so much. I try so hard to get into it all, but deep down, I still hurt and long to hear your voice and go Black Friday shopping at midnight with you. We dreamed about my college days, and although it didn't end up the way we had talked about, I still hope that you're proud of me. You didn't get to move me into my dorm or my first apartment like we had talked about- in fact, the memories we planned on making are the ones that hurt the most.

When I first lost you, I thought my world was coming to an end. I resented those memories because I knew that I couldn't make any more with you. But now, those memories are the things I can't seem to let go. I don't get sad anymore when I pass your house. Although I'll never shop at midnight on Black Friday ever again, the thrill of Black Friday will always entertain me. Things such as your favorite foods and the songs I used in your memorial video don't leave my stomach with a feeling of sorrow.

At first I thought this was me trying to forget. The truth is, that after someone leaves your life for whatever reason, the memories are all we have left. If we forget or push the memories away, it's like we're forgetting the person altogether. I don't want to forget you and the way your face lit up when you saw me. I don't want to forget the acts of kindness and the things you did to cheer me up when I was down. Therefore, I won't associate our memories with pain, but with happiness instead. In life you were one of the most important people I had, that shouldn't change because you're no longer physically here.

Yes, I'll cry every anniversary and birthday. I may even tear up every once in a while because of some of the memories. However, I will no longer associate my emotions with resentment of your passing.

I don't think I'll ever meet anyone else like you in my entire life. I'm forever grateful for the memories we did make. I will always cherish them until the day we meet again. Thank you for filling my life with so much joy and love.