As I sit here typing this article, I am in the very immediate wake of tragedy, a great loss. Before I get into the emotions of losing a friend, and why this story pertains to my hometown, in particular... let's start from the beginning.

My hometown is a sweet college town in central Kentucky. Lexington to be exact. I feel so privileged to have grown up here- it is truly one of the greatest places on Earth. Since I started high school, I feel like my precious city has been plagued with tragedy after tragedy. And while these losses are shocking and painful, there's something comforting about the community in Lexington.

The way we can all relate on some level, what it's like to lose someone, brings me comfort. It's the sad truth, but it provides such peace having people around you that relate to how you feel.

Personally, I've lost nine friends since my freshman year of high school. Some of those friends were closer to me than others, some just friends I passed each day in the hallways. But, despite it all, I've lost nine peers.

Nine young people. Nine people with futures. Nine people with loved ones: moms, dads, siblings, friends, teachers, and some even with children who loved them.

Those are just nine people I knew and loved, but there are countless more that my community has mourned as well. The sad reality of these tragedies is not lost on me.

Of the people I told you I've lost, they each have a different story. Each tragic story ending in different causes of death. Causes of death that always seem to be the first thing reported on the news or on social media. Every time a friend is lost, the first thing you hear is that it was this or that, that killed them. But, that isn't the most important part. Why not focus on the precious life that was just lost? Because I, for one, am tired of having my grief overshadowed by how this death "could've" been prevented. Sadly, it wasn't prevented, so let's stop talking about that for a moment and honor the person we are now without.

Living in Lexington, especially as a young person, comes with great friendship but also great loss. The saddest part about living in this amazing place, and being apart of this community, we ALL know what it's like to lose a friend. And let me tell ya, losing a friend isn't easy. When you lose a loved one, it's sort of like all your emotions hit you at once.

Unless you've suffered through it, you might not understand what that means. The best way I can explain it is that you really don't know how to feel. In the immediate shock of losing someone, especially a friend, it's like every emotion you've ever felt, and every memory you've ever had with that person overtakes your entire mind and you just don't know what you're feeling – you're kind of feeling everything.

You feel the sadness. You might even feel anger. And if you're like me, you also experience happiness- you know, that unexpected smile you get when you're scrolling through your camera roll looking at pictures of you and that friend from Ecton four summers ago... that kind of happiness.

And then, you're back to sad again. Sadness returns because you didn't know that was going to be your last Caturday with them. You didn't think you'd never see their name on your home screen again. You just weren't ready to say goodbye.

It seems to me that my community has gotten too used to saying goodbye. We've learned what it feels like to go to a funeral for a friend. We've watched their parents say goodbye to their child. We've witnessed too many a tragedy. My message to you is to never get used to saying goodbye...

Hugs your loved ones tighter. Go out and have fun with those precious friends even if you were gonna stay in. Make more memories. You never know when it'll be your last.

To my community, to my amazing city of Lexington, I love you. I am humbled my your strength and love. I am always in awe of your abilty to love others during the hard times and to bring us together as one. There is no loss too big for us to handle, I am honored to be apart of this family.