i always thought i'd see her again

[mesospippy]

i can't believe this has happened. i always imagined i would come home one weekend, maybe the summer. i would walk through wal-mart and see her there. or maybe see her cruising around hope. we'd pull into a parking lot somewhere and talk about life. or maybe i'd see her at a football game, telling everyone to really give it their all. i'd wave at her and she'd flash that gorgeous smile. and i could think to myself about how lucky i am to know people like her.
the kind of people who, well, you just know that they care.
i feel bad that i never told her how much she means to me. how i felt like the world hated me while i was on the flag line but i knew that she believed in me. how if she hadn't have been able to throw a triple like a pro, i never would have learned. how i loved it if i was upset and she didn't say anything and just gave me a hug. how much i cherished the fact that she was there for me at the oddest times for the strangest things.
but she was there.
she was always there, and always happy to see me, or anyone.
she was funny and had this beautiful smile. she shined like no one else.
and she had faith. oh my, did she have faith.

i can't believe she's gone.

Heidi, I love you.
I know we weren't best friends but you were a great one. I'm blessed to have known you, and sad that your life has been so short and so many have missed out on the way you shined.
I know you're an angel, please watch out for me.