9 years ago today, I lost a good friend, Haley Victoria April Urbin, to be exact, 3, 285 days have passed since she has gone. We were the ripe age of 14. I will spare you the details of her tragic death, but all I will say is it was a life taken too soon. This particular event has shaped my life and I truly believe has made me the woman I am today. Haley was a joy, teachers loved her. Girls wanted to be friends with her. And all the guys wanted to date her. She was surrounded by friends, came from a great family, and she always had a smile on her face. I spent a lot of time with Haley my freshmen year of high school. We were on the same sports teams, and I can still hear her laugh in my head 9 years later. People like that--who leave long lasting impressions in your brain are unforgettable.
9 years ago seems like a long time, but its funny on this day I go back to those feelings I had at 14. I remember that it was shocking, I remember where I was when I found out. I remember who I got the call from. Memories are so vivid, I can close my eyes and watch it like a movie. Like a movie that is so unreal, so unfair, so unjust. And then I open my eyes are realize its true life. I struggled for a long time trying to make sense of God's decision to take Haley from this earth. But I know that if anything this single event I witnessed in my life, has changed me. The event of Haley passing shaped my life forever.
The years of adolescence are tough. It is trying new things, fitting in with friends, and finding yourself. After Haley passed, I think it had put a fear in me. Maybe not a fear of dying or something bad happening. But I just didn't want to put my life in any sort of circumstance that it could be taken away. Watching Haley's family and all our friends go through every emotion and the grief cycle was heartbreaking. My heart still aches for her family and all of my old friends.
Haley's life and death allowed me to realize that life is short. Sometimes it can be years, days or even just a blink of an eye. Through out my life I have realized that God has a plan and purpose for everyone's life. Even though Haley only had 14 years on earth she has an eternity in heaven. Sometimes I wonder if a person's death is the purpose of their life. To teach a hundred, twenty, or even one person to live their life to the fullest. I can truly say that Haley was heaven on earth. She had angel wings long before she could crawl, walk, or run. She had an angelic presence. A beautiful smile, and a contagious laugh. Although her days were numbered, Her life will always be remembered. I thank her for changing my life, for being my guardian angel. Every time I drive by the spot where she was struck, I kiss my hand then pat my rooftop. I have been doing that for 9 years. My kisses to heaven will never stop.
Rest In Peace My Friend
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