Dear Classmate Gone Too Soon,

I never thought I'd be writing to you like this, never in my wildest dreams. I thought the Class of 2015 was going to be invincible, untouchable. But here we are, left without you and left in the chaotic aftermath death leaves behind.

Just like everybody else, the news of your death took me a while to process. It all seemed so surreal and I couldn't find the right words to say. When I finally came back to my room and opened Facebook, I saw your face plastered everywhere. I could scroll and scroll and scroll, but there was no escaping you. Needless to say, I lost it. I didn't even know you personally, but I completely lost it. I curled up on the couch and thought about just how fragile all of our lives are.

I mean, it feels like we just graduated high school, it wasn't supposed to be this way. We were all supposed to get old, have families, and reminisce on good times at class reunions, but now there will always be one person missing.

Our small class has been riveted by your passing. Even people that didn't know you personally, such as myself, are finding it hard to cope. I think it's because you being gone has made death real for us. We realize death is relentless, it takes both the young and healthy and the old and weak. It does not discriminate. It does not show remorse. Now that it's been put into perspective, we're all so scared. This can happen to anybody now, it can happen to us.

It's sad to think that your passing is the one thing that has brought us together as a class again. Isn't it funny how that goes? Everybody is so caught up in life that the only time we slow down and stop is when another life has come to an end.

We're holding everybody in our class near and dear now. We're starting to realize that we're family, one crazy, dysfunctional family. We saw each other every day, we knew each others lives, we grew up together, there's no denying the ties that bind us.

I think it's crazy that people that go to huge schools are missing out on this kind of bond. Even though we drove each other crazy and said we wanted nothing but to leave this all behind and move on, we knew that deep down this is a place we could always call home.

Not only has our class been rallying behind you, but the community as well. You gave so much to the community and had such an impact on people's lives that everybody is willing to give back. I'm so glad I grew up in a community this willing to help families in need.

All in all, I just hope you know that we were never ready to see you go this soon. Fly high up there.

Love,

Your Fellow Classmate