Jake Diamond- July 29th, 1993. When I blast Gucci in the car, I do it for you. When I jump into the ocean, I do it for you. When I achieve dreams, you’re one of the first I want to call. When I hug your mama, I do it for you. One of the last times we were together you told me to stay in my lane, to not worry about others and I’m gonna do my best— to do it for you. I never thought that listening to Gucci Mane would make me cry, but here we are- Every beautiful moment has become a present from you and I will always say your name out loud because I know you hear it. If you know the heavy reality of grief, you know it inspires you to love harder, love truer. You want to hold onto the most mundane moments- I wished I stayed at your house five minutes longer, I wish I had more voicemails I could listen to on repeat. I don’t know why we share something as sacred as grief on social media- I guess sometimes the feeling is so strong that it belongs everywhere. Part of me wants to write a novel on how much I miss you but most of me just wants to say how we need you back. There are times I want everyone to know you’re gone, for strangers to understand the weight. Sometimes I say your name in my head so many times I think you’ll come back. “Aright maiwenn, I gotta go I love you.” Never hold back saying I love you. I love you Jakey, happy birthday. Friends til the end.