A Letter in January

Dear Veronica,

To say I miss you is an understatement. There isn't an hour that goes by that I don't think of you, or that I'm not reminded of you. Sometimes it makes me laugh, and sometimes it makes me sad. Maybe it is that the world, being fallen as it is, couldn't handle an angel like you--someone with such clearly positive intent.

I know you don't miss me, because you're with me all the time, and I'm trying to reach that level of acceptance, under which terms I can embrace that I don't need to miss you so much when I'll always have you in my heart, in my memories, and in all of the pass-times we shared and causes we were passionate about.

But this letter isn't about that. I just wanted to share with you how lucky I consider myself to be, to have had such an opportunity to be your very best friend, and to have you as mine. You impacted loads of people (and animals!) in your time, but you were profoundly influential to me. You taught me so much about what it means to love unconditionally, and what it is to be a true friend. You taught me without words, but instead just by being yourself, and every day we were together made me into a better friend, and a better person. You taught me invaluable life skills in the department of compassion, patience, and friendship in general, but most importantly you gave me irreplaceable experience. You gave me the chance to be an important and solid figure in your life, where I could practice and apply the tools you gave to me without obligation or disposition. I could never do it all as gracefully as you, but the trust we had meant the world to me, Verny, And if I had it all to do over again, I'd do it as many times as I could.

While I'm sad that our time has ended, I am ever grateful for the time we've had, because I know it has shaped me into a better person than I could have ever been without it. I will always cherish you, my very best friend, for all of the goodness you gave to me in the years that we had together, and I can't wait to see you again.

Thanks Verny. I love you.