Sunshine.

My best friend, Courtney, is the brightest ray of sunshine you will ever meet. And this summer, when I had the privilege of meeting her loving family-- I finally got to see where that special spirit comes from. Though I never truly "got to know" them, their warm and welcoming nature could be distinctly felt. 

Courtney is the definition of a true friend. Someone who you can call, bawling your eyes out, and each consoling word that comes out her mouth is healing. 

Courtney is that girl. The one whose smile just makes your heart feel a little bit lighter. The one who asks how your day is going, when she's having a bad one. The one who is patient, when you don't make sense. The one who looks out for you, laughs with you, and always has the right words. 

I've been searching for those right words. And I haven't found them. Because there's nothing I can say. Nothing that will heal her wound. Nothing that will ease her pain. Nothing that will bring back the sweetest little boy, who is her brother. 

If I could I take away every ounce of her pain, I would. I think we all would. But we can't.

So instead, I'm going hug my loved one's a little tighter. I'm going to go through my life with a new outlook. With a new appreciation for everything and everyone. I'm going to try to be a little bit more like Jake. Because from what I've read, and from I've heard, he was one stellar human being. Someone who made quite the difference- to our entire community.

I think the question we are left with-- is where do we find peace. And I think answer is-- from each other. I've never in my life teared up scrolling through my Facebook feed. Not until tonight- when I felt more love and unity than ever.

I've never been more inspired. And I've never been prouder to be a slicer.