It’s said that the Holy One always takes the very best, and I can attest that He took the best of the best! You are perfect, Danielle, amazing in everything you do. There is nothing you don’t know, nothing that you don’t succeed at.

My thoughts refuse to acknowledge what happened. My heart refuses to face reality.

I’m so grateful for the privilege I had in knowing you. We were such a close-knit group of six, and you were the one who promised that we’d remain friends forever, that you wouldn’t let anyone break up our friendship. You always went out of your way to get us back together, to ensure that we all kept in touch. Hardly a day went by when we didn’t chat or laugh together. Once six, always six!

So many times during the week, I find myself wanting to tell you things, to share what’s going on with you, to send a picture or just hear what you’re up to. It’s so hard for me. The throngs of people who descended upon your house this week is unbelievable. So many people who love and cherish you. I always knew that you were a special friend, but this week I was amazed by the stories I heard. You were so modest, so unassuming…

My Danielle, it’s so hard for me to speak about you in the past tense. I can’t imagine a world without you. Where do we go from here? How do we go on?

Please watch over us from above and give us all the strength to continue with this giant void in our hearts.

Love you,

Avia Tanami