On January 16th, 2015 my dear friend, Fernando Morales would fly on up to the soccer fields of heaven. He passed away at the age of 20 after a long battle with Ewing’s Sarcoma. Many things that were to follow this moment are a blur. The one thing that I do remember is that over the course of the following days, weeks, and months I would gain some pretty amazing people in my life who made such a difficult time bearable. Three of them being the Morales Family.

Dear Morales family,

To be honest, I didn’t really know you guys before Fernando passed away and I didn’t really have a relationship with you all until after his passing. Fernando and I shared a special friendship that I will always hold very dear to my heart and cherish for the rest of my life, but to you I was just another one of Fernando’s many friends that you had never really met before (and we all know how popular he was...there was a lot of us). I don't remember when my relationship with you guys changed, when I no longer was a stranger or when our personalities clicked, but I can tell you I don't know what I would do without you guys.

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I don’t think I could ever put into words how much your love and support over these past two years has meant to me. From the moment Fernando passed away you had your arms open wide to not just me but to everyone and anyone that loved Fernando. You guys not only embraced me and comforted me during this time giving me a shoulder to cry on, but you made me feel like apart of the family, apart of Fernando's family. Even though I was a stranger to all of you, you still loved me and welcomed me in. You did so just because I was one of Fern’s many friends who was hurting. You helped me plan an amazing event, and get in contact with many people who had an impact on Fern, allowing us all to hear so many awesome stories. In the process of doing so you witnessed me almost light myself, your house, and the woods on fire multiple times before we finally found a sky lantern that we could deem "safe". This gave me something to plan and look forward to. This was one of my ways of grieving the loss of your son and you were there every step of the way with endless support. Thank you for being a light during a time when you were hurting and grieving to help let others realize, it was all going to be okay.

One of our traditions has become “family dinners” at your house when all of Fern's friends are back in town from college. Let me tell you, I look forward to coming over, not just because your cooking is amazing, but because of how I feel every time I leave your presence. Your love and spirits attracted me towards you before I even knew you, and that's why I think I clung on to you guys. When I am around you I feel closer to Fern. The more I am around you the more I see where he got his personality and did certain things. I can see why he was so friendly, loving and compassionate...he got it from you guys. There is something to be said about the fact that you can have a group of Fern’s friends over your house that he knew from all different things, who don’t normally hang out, and who aren't super close with each other and still have such an amazing time. I never know who to expect and there is always a different mixture of friends but it just goes to show the type of people he surrounded himself with and the quality of friendship he shared with each of us. When we are all together you can feel his spirit alive in the room. When we are all together the room lights up and we are all just so full of life. He saw something special in each of us just like I know you do because of how much you still care about us and love us.

So to the Morales family:

Thank you for reminding me of what Fernando was all about.

Thank you for reminding me that Fernando's passing was about the life that he lived in those 20 short years and not about the birthdays he would never reach.

Thank you for helping me realize its okay to get upset when you think about the memories we shared with Fernando, and that it will be bittersweet, but that's okay.

Thank you for the tears that we have shared.

Thank you for reminding me of how much I meant to your son.

Thank you for having me over for your house for home cooked meals and lots of laughter.

Thank you for making my stomach hurt from laughing so hard every time I leave your house (and because I probably ate too much of Albino’s chicken and rice.)

Thank you for the random pictures that you send to me of Fernando and that you share on Facebook. They always put a smile on my face.

Thank you for still checking up on me randomly to see how I am doing.

Thank you for telling me all of the embarrassing stories of Fern’s childhood that he never told me about (and the pictures that go along with them).

Thank you for the lifelong friends (and the prom date) that your son has brought into my life over the past two years.

Thank you for always having an open door, and letting me in when I come knocking both literally and figuratively.

Thank you for listening to me when I talk about Fern and share my memories that I have of him with you.

Thank you for keeping me in the loop and inviting me to events on the special days so that everyone can come together and comfort each other, even though I usually can’t make it, it’s the thought that means the world to me.

Thank you for allowing me to be apart of your family, even when I was a stranger.

Thank you for making me feel like I have known you my whole life, even though it's only been two years.

Thank you for not acting like Fernando didn't exist but instead you share his life and accomplishments with everyone you meet and for always being so open with your experience.

Thank you for supporting and giving back to organizations like the Jimmy Fund to help others who are going through the same thing that your family has gone through.

Thank you for sharing a part of your life with me, and allowing me to share my life with you.

Thank you for being there no matter how much time passes since the last time we talked, and just picking up where we left off.

Thank you for bringing all of us together.

And most importantly thank you for keeping the memory of you son, and my friend alive, by still celebrating the life that he lived, every single day.

"The views expressed, [in this article] reflect personal opinions of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of the United States Naval Academy, the United States Navy, any federal agency, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government"