Growing up, a little girl's first love is her father. He is that man that she can look up to and she knows that he will never leave her, but all of that can change. When someone loses their father, it feels as if their whole word has been turned upside down. A giant piece of your heart is now missing and you feel as if you will never be whole again. You get sad every time you go out and see a girl with her dad. Talking about him becomes hard because all you want to do is be able to make new memories with him. You also start blaming yourself, but let me tell you, it does get easier.

I know you're probably thinking I'm crazy, but I promise it's true. When I was 11 years old, my dad died of lung cancer. I was devastated. I couldn't believe it. I felt like the ground had been ripped right out from under me. I couldn't talk about him, or do anything that him and I used to do. All I wanted was to be able to see my dad one more time. My dad was my best friend. We were attached at the hip. Because of him, I fell in love with music and sports. There was no greater person in this world than my dad. I thought about how he wasn't going to see me graduate high school and college, he wouldn't be able to walk me down the aisle when I got married, he wasn't going to hold his first grandchild, or he just wasn't going to be there to protect me. I never thought I would be the same girl anymore, but then something changed.

Somehow it got easier. I was able to talk about him and not be sad. I was able to start doing things that he and I did again. It was easier to listen to our favorite music, play sports,watch our favorite movies, eat our favorite food and think about him. I never believed people when they said time heals all wounds, but I've come to realize that they were right. It takes while, but I promise it gets better. Even though I know that I won't see him again, I know that he would be happy for all that I have accomplished. I live my life in a way that I know he would be proud. It's great to surround yourself with family and friends who will always be there to support you. There will days that are hard; like his birthday and the day he died, but know that you will see him again one day. That's what gets me through the hardest days I have. That love for your father never goes away. The love will be with your forever; so even though you're thinking that the pain will never go away, just believe it does, it just takes time.