Dear Rachel,
I know you can’t read this or see me writing this, but I can’t hold my words in any longer. I want the world to know what a kind soul you were and how you fought until the very end. The days we shared our dorm room are still fresh in my memory. You always took the lower bunk during the summer because you knew I felt queasy in the heat. I remember when the tiles in our room suddenly split open and I was snoring away, you stayed with me to keep me company. You had a compassion that only those closest to you could see. Your big eyes were like those of a dove, filled with compassion. You never gave up on me, even with my constant mood swings. You were my best engineering graphics teacher. Even though I struggled to draw a straight line, you still stayed up late with me to help me draw a perfect one. I can’t forget our aloo burjya nights and our time with our lovely warden.
Your faith in God was astonishing, and I look up to you with awe. No illness or setback could stop you from moving forward; instead, it pushed you to become the person you are today. You often spoke to me about Solomon, the Song of Solomon, and the Lamentations of Jeremiah. I hope that you met them and were able to ask all of your questions.
I am still in pain from not seeing you one last time. I feel guilty for not saying goodbye. I wish I had sent you a message last week, and I wish I had gotten one last big hug from my best friend. You told me to visit you soon, and if I had known that life was this short, I would have visited you much sooner. I couldn’t stop my tears while writing this, Rachel. Isn’t it selfish of you to leave me so soon? You know that I have very few friends, and I can count them on one hand. You left me so soon…
You always call my son a champion. How I wish I could tell him about our adventures with our warden at our hostel. You always tried to keep me from getting into trouble and were like a sister to me in college.
Writing every word pains me, and I don’t want any of these memories to fade away. Our friendship was unique to both of us, and our last conversation, just last month, was so heartfelt for both of us. I know it was God’s time to take you, but I never imagined it would be so soon. Although we didn’t talk often, our silence acted as a comforting blanket for our friendship. I know you are resting peacefully in the heavenly realm. Don’t you think it’s too soon? I wanted you to have your very own fairy tale. But god had another plans.
Rachel, I won’t be selfish and ask God why he took you away. Instead, I will thank him for sending me such a wonderful friend. I feel privileged to have known you and to call you my best friend. You were so resilient, and I will thank God every day for the friendship he blessed us with all these years.
“Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel.” Proverbs 27:9 this was the bond we shared Rachel.
The last time I saw you in person was at my wedding. I haven’t seen you since, but because of my faith in Jesus, I know that I will see you again in heaven, peacefully resting in the arms of Jesus.
You believed the gospel and you lived a life of faithful devotion to God. With the same belief, I will meet you in heaven Rachel
I will forever miss you, my dear Rachey. No one will ever call me Karey like you did.
Love,
your Karey
