It was the middle of 7th grade
I had just moved away
My dad called me into the living room
And told me that you were gone
You had gotten into a car accident
Going home from cheerleading practice

You died by the time
The sun rose the next morning

I remember going into the store across the street
Just a few days after I got the news
I went to the register with my snacks
And there was a cup filled with money
It had your cheerleading picture on it
It’s the same picture on your grave now
Your dad was trying to raise money for your funeral

...The one I didn’t go to
I regret that

From the second I met you in 2nd grade
Up until December 22, 2009
You were the one very best friend of mine
Nobody celebrated Christmas that year
There was nothing to celebrate
It’s still hard to think that you’re not actually here
Dawson lost his sister in the car accident
Even though he was in the seat next to you
Your dad lost his daughter in the back seat
Even though you were hit on both of your sides
That’s the first time I really felt loss
You were there one second and then
…you were just gone

I didn’t have multiple best friends
It was just you

In 5 days, you would have been 18
and probably jumping off the walls
Maybe we would have gone roller-skating
Like we did on your 12th birthday
You are my best friend Taylor C.
Not a day goes by
That I don’t want to tell you everything  
But I know you’re up there cheering for me
Like you did when were were kinds

5 years with you
Seemed like 5 seconds
But
These 5 years without you
Have seemed more like 50 years

Happy early birthday, Tay
I wish you could have been here
Because, I miss you so much
Every day that you’re not here tears me apart.