I met my friend when I was just twelve years old. We were both full of energy, passion, and joy especially when it came to cheerleading. We cheered together, grew up together, and made countless memories that are still in my heart. Our bond wasn’t just something that stayed at practice on the cheer mat it extended beyond that. My little sister and I would often go over to her house for family gatherings. Her family treated us like one of their own, and we all shared laughter, food, and love like we had known each other forever.As we got older, life started to move faster. She moved away, and with time, we lost touch. Not because we stopped caring, but because that’s just how life sometimes works. Despite the distance, we never stopped supporting one another. We’d keep up on social media, show love from afar, and celebrate each other’s wins even if we couldn’t be there physically. It felt like we were just waiting for the right time to reconnect again.But three years ago, everything changed. I found out through someone that my childhood friend had been found unconscious in her room. At first, I couldn’t process what I was hearing. I sat in silence, completely in shock. I kept telling myself that it wasn’t true, that someone had made a mistake, But as the days passed and more people confirmed it, the truth started to settle in. Personally I didn’t know how to feel because i’ve never loss anyone close to me so I didn’t know how to feel. It wasn’t until I saw her laying in her casket that it truly hit me she was gone. The girl I had laughed with, cheered with, and grown up beside was no longer here. That moment changed me. Seeing someone you love laying lifeless in front of you is a pain I can’t describe. It broke my heart and opened my eyes in a way nothing else ever could.Her death taught me that you truly never know what someone is going through. From the outside, everything can look perfect, but on the inside, people might be carrying pain, hurt, or battles that they don’t talk about. It taught me to never judge anyone and to always choose to be kind, because we’re all going through something, even if we don’t show it. I won’t lie coping with her loss hasn’t been easy.There are still moments where I think about her and wish things had turned out differently. But through it all, I’ve found comfort and strength in my faith. God has carried me through the darkest moments, given me peace when I had none, and helped me heal. I now look at life differently more thankful, more mindful, and more loving. Losing her reminded me to cherish the people I love, to reach out more often, and to live with purpose. Her memory will forever continue to live on and , I know she is watching over me.

Losing my great grandmother was one of the hardest things had to face this past year. I had never lost anyone close to me so before so grief was definitely a new experience for me. I didn’t know how to process my emotions. I hadn’t seen her in about 2 years because of school and time and ended up seeing her one more time a week before she past not knowing she would be leaving this earth the day after my birthday. It was difficult to celebrate knowing that someone I held close to me was no longer here .It was a very bittersweet moment not seeing her in so long and then seeing her on hospice care. I didn’t know how to cope with my emotions of not seeing her sooner but in moments of pain my faith in god truly became my anchor. Even when it doesn’t makes sense God timing is always perfect and I had to remind myself of that. There was a reason I was able to see her one last time before she left that it wasn’t just a coincidence. Ive never been big on prayer because I never knew where to start or what to say, But in a moment like this I knew there was only one person to turn to. I’ve talked to God about my grief and regrets of not seeing her sooner. I found a bit of comfort in knowing that my grandma was no longer in pain anymore that she was in a place of peace and that our bond wasn’t broken just because she wasn’t physically here. My faith helped me focus on the appreciation rather than loss. Instead dwelling on her passing I looked back on the memories my family and I shared at her house . It was the heart of everything from holidays, birthdays , graduation parties , proms , and just regular visits where everyone felt welcome. No matter what was going on we always knew we could come to her home. She created a sense of unity that made our family feel whole. Losing her wasn’t just losing a loved one it felt like losing the foundation of our family. But through faith, I hold onto the love she built keeping her spirit alive in how we stay connected. That belief gives me strength helping me carry her love and memory with me as I continue forward in life.