Avery,
The world asked so much of you from so young. And you gave. You gave and you gave, until there was nothing left to give. You were the Giving Tree.
We met in Arizona, 2012, you know the place — you knew it all too well already. You were so small, you were always so small. The battle well underway despite your age and innocence.
You come in small memories and moments now too — a lavender bed spray to get you through the hollow hours, neon shorts and a leaping hug of reunification, rubbing your aching belly on the floor of a classroom, curled on a couch together in tearful solidarity, hearing you delight in your connection to dogs, a knowing glance and that priceless smile across the table, a fierce declaration to a nurse, a supportive and optimistic message amidst your own tumult, a shaking hand in mine as you braved to share your truth. It is this last one that will stay with me — your balance of enduring delicateness and courage.
In all other ways though, you and your legacy are anything but small — a BIG personality, full of love, gifting laughter, biting sarcasm and wit, ridiculous charm, indescribable preciousness — and will live forever.
I’m confident nobody in your life these days is aware of me or my friendship with you. Yet you were my little sister, my darling girl across more than a decade. Let that stand as a testament to the light, persistence, and pure joy that you were. The number of lives you impacted for the better. The impression we couldn’t hope remove even if we wanted. The large cheering squad — near and far — who will always root for you.
We hadn’t talked since late last year. Tuesday you came to mind, the world implored me to reach out and ask how you were doing. I didn’t know why, and I didn’t know the circumstance. I messaged you Wednesday. You left us that day before. My spirit knew.
I’m sure I’m just one among many left raw, devastated. Yet I take solace in knowing your fight is over. You can rest, you can know peace at last. Know in the end you were so much more than your fight. You will always be brightness. I am forever grateful to have met you, Avery. Until we meet again, rest well and give em hell, kid 💞
Hold Her - for King + Country: https://www.youtube.com/watch…