You never expect something like this to happen this early in life. There’s two months until graduation, you’re walking to second period and you hear the news. Nothing but pure shock runs through your body. It can’t be true, one of your very own, gone before your eyes.

The hallway is full of tears and comforting hugs. Classes stop for the day in remembrance of you. We were all so close to finally making it to the big world, beginning to chase our dreams and start a future. For someone so deserving of life, why did you have to go home so early?

We waited on you to come back at 8 a.m. every morning, hoping you would show back up, ignoring the fact that you were no longer with us. An empty desk, parking spot, and so many memories to remind us of you for the remaining two months we had in this place.

The day finally came: graduation. The day that we had all waited 12 years for was in front of us. Speech after speech, it was finally time to receive our diplomas. In alphabetical order called us one by one, until it came to your name. It was like a rush of wind blew through the gymnasium, we could all feel your presence. I looked over about five chairs, and there sat your picture and cap. It was silent for about ten seconds, and then one by one, people began to stand and clap. Not a dry eye in the room. Not tears of sadness, but tears of joy knowing that you were there with us, cheering us all on.

I wonder where you would be now, if you were still here with us. I wonder how our reunions will be without you there, making us all smile and laugh. It’s almost been a year now without you, but we all feel your presence every now and then. So I ask you one thing, watch over us all. Keep an eye out for your old classmates, Lord knows we all need it. But until we all meet again, sending lots of love up to heaven.