December 2013

Ashley was my best friend in high school. We were the friends that always managed to be with each other in school group projects, were in all the same sports and clubs, and went through everything together. Her family became almost like my second family. Then there is my boyfriend, Evan, whom I have been dating for over three years now. We hang out whenever possible and are always going places together. I fit right into his family and loved spending time with them. Evan and Ashley were the two people closest to me. December 2013 was one of the hardest times in my life. Ashley's mom had been battling cancer for 3-4 years and had taken a turn for the worst. She passed away in the first week of December and I didn't think we would have to go through something that terrible. Only a few days later, Evan's dad also passed away after 10 years of battling pulmonary fibrosis. Seeing the two people closest to me in such heartbreak made me realize that I had to be strong and be by their sides. That week in December was one of the worst times I had to go through but yet made me a stronger person.