Until You Weren't

One day, you'll hug your friend for the last time. You might not know it will be the last time. I'm so sorry, Michelle. I wish I had hugged you that night because you died three weeks later. I knew I would see you again. Knew you would always be around. Until you weren't. Taken suddenly, so young. Another victim to youthful indiscretions. Drunk driving. To be young and carefree. I hold you forever young in my memory. And, life went on. It's been 11 years now. And my youth is fading. But the memory remains. That time in my life when I, too, was carefree. I think it might have died with you. Somewhere, there in the past. My heart died young, yet I carry on.