Dear Sweet Beautiful Amy,

Like it was yesterday, I remember the last day and time I saw your beautiful smile, sporting your new hairdo. You and your best friend surprised me with a visit! I took you both out for dinner that night to your favorite restaurant, the Spaghetti Factory, because it was a tradition when you came to visit me. Gosh, did we have fun laughing, eating and just hanging out that night, or what? At the end of the evening, I hugged and kissed you both and wished you a safe and fun trip on your spring vacation. You two were off to Las Vegas!

It is now going on seven years since that day when I received that ugly late night call from your step dad. We lost you to a car accident. I have cried every day since and still with tears running down my face now as I write you this letter. I pray every day for you and hope that you were not scared, that you did not hurt or feel any pain, and that in the end of it all you had the time of your life, as short as it was on this earth.

Your mom and twin sister love and miss you so much, Amy. They are so strong to go through the motions every day. I really don’t know how they do it. I don’t. And when I look at your sister, I see and hear you in her voice, her mannerisms, her smile and laugh. It is so bittersweet. She had to learn to be a single sibling in a very painful and devastating way. You were always the leader and she the follower.

Every year, your mom and step dad put together what we endearingly call Bowling for Amy Day. We celebrate your life! With all of your family members, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends, we go bowling, eat pizza, play horseshoes and gather in a big circle with helium-filled colorful balloons with our personal handwritten messages to you. We say a prayer and release them to you, in your honor.

Please keep visiting your mom and sister in their dreams, and if you have time, swing by and visit with me too! You are forever in our thoughts, forever in our hearts and never forgotten.

I love you, Amy.

Aunt C, age 56