It is never, ever, ever easy to lose someone you love, and it is even harder when you are not with them as you know the end is coming near. It takes a strong person to gamble with fate and put off going on home for one last conversation, one last touch, or one last smile with a loved one. It takes someone as strong as Rachel Ashley Platten to receive news that sweet Nana Platten was nearing the end of her life and proceed to ask for prayers that she would make it home in time because she refused to cancel her show a few hours from then. She did not let the people that needed to hear the words to her songs that night down and she trusted and found some comfort in the fact that she was doing the right thing, that she was doing what would make Nana proud and following her dream.

There were many Plattenums, my group included, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania last night who wanted nothing more than to put Rachel in one of our cars and drive her home right then and there, but of course, that wasn’t really an option. We could only hope that she was strong enough to carry on and that perhaps our love and support would be enough to help her through.

Rachel, I think I’m speaking on behalf of all of us there when I say thank you. Thank you for being honest with us. Thank you for letting us in. Thank you for letting yourself have some fun and giving it your all, just like always, even though you had absolutely no obligation to and we more than understood. You are an absolute angel, and I’m so beyond grateful that you are in my life.

During this difficult time, I want you to remember that it is more than okay to not be okay. It is okay to let yourself feel and let your guard down. It is okay to show emotion and lean on others for strength right now. You have lifted us up as often as you could and in any way that you could, and now it is our turn to send you our strength and love and prayers. You are not along in this, and you never will be. Heck, you can’t get rid of us that easily. Love, if your wings are broken, please take mine till yours open, too.

Remember that Nana is always with you, no matter what. At every show, she will have the best seat in the house and she’ll be singing and dancing along like there is no tomorrow. She is so proud of you and anyone can see how infinitely much she loves you. She would not want you to be sad because she is gone. She would want you to look back on all the happy memories and smile as widely as you did onstage when you dedicated your performance to her. We love you, Rachel.

But know this, the ones that love us never truly leave us.