Dear Emily,

I took a walk up the mountain today. The place where we used to play and run wild. I walked to the tree you loved most, and sat for a time. I could only think of you. God, I miss you.

I remember the games we used to play. We were explorers and scavengers! We dug for buried treasure and lost boys! We were everything on that mountaintogether. There were no rules and no challenges of life, just us and the glories of nature.

I remember the way you used to hold my hand when we would climb the steep slopes and how you would catch me when I would trip over a branch or stub my toe on a rock. You were my protector, my champion, you were my everythingyoull always be my everything. You were always there but, not anymorenot anymore.

You used to laugh all the time, you'd never stop. There was sunshine in your eyes and daisies in your dimples even when you were sad. We used to get in trouble for coming home so late, we just couldn't leave that mountain, but while we got in trouble, in you I could still see the beautiful bliss that you carried and spread.

When I hear the trees whisper I can almost hear your laughter. A bird flutters and I'm almost sure its you scampering away quietly, playing a cheerful game of hide and seek. I want to run to you, look for you, I want to say "ready or not here I come!", and dash away to your playful game. It's not like that anymore. Your not in hiding waiting for me to come find you anymore.

Today was your Birthday, but you weren't here. You're another year older, another year sweeter. I watched as the sun sank low over the mountains around mewishing I could see your smile just one last time. You would have loved the sky. It was the colors of purple and pink, orange and yellow, everything you loved.

They buried you yesterdayover by the ferns. I'm sorry I didn't tell you your shoe was untied. I didn't really mean it when I wished for the rain! The moss was so wet! I didn't know you'd slip by the rocks! Why did you have to go? I can't stand to look at the mound of dirt where you lay. That's not your favorite tree you're under, its not you're favorite place the hide that you're laying in.

The rain was coming down then, but still I sat under your tree. Emily's tree, that's what I'll call it, Emily's tree. You wouldn't have wanted it any other way, I'm sure of it. This was yours and yours alone, but this mountain was ours and you'll always be here.

I never did get to say good bye, maybe its best that

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