Michelle’s memorial service is this weekend. I’ve been really struggling this week to finally put the words down that I would want to share, to say what she meant to me and how important she was. Last night, I was reminded of Tyler’s words at my mom’s service in September. “She was the sun in our solar system.” Sometimes simple works best.

Michelle is the only person I’ve ever known who I felt knew me, really, truly knew me, and loved me for all of me, not just parts. She was the person that I most trusted in the world because I knew she would never hurt me, not by choice, not casually, not accidentally.

Even the dog would like me to stop crying.