DEAR CASSIE,
We’re not sure why this happened. Maybe there are some people that are too good for this world and if that’s true, then for sure, you were one of those people. You were an angel on earth. We never once saw you angry or upset. Never once jealous or envious. Never judgmental or mean. We only ever remember you loving and laughing. Smiling and sweet. Kind and caring. In a world that is often so dark and cold - so angry and unforgiving, you were a light, a rainbow, a smile.
We love you, and what we loved most Is that you were unquestionably, unequivocally, and unapologetically Cassie. It feels like everyone always worries about what everyone else thinks. Everyone is always judging everyone and feeling judged at the same time. Wanting what everyone else has and tearing them down for having it at the same time. But not you, Cassie. You never once cared what anyone thought about you. Or whether you were wearing the “cool clothes” or the “designer styles”. You never worried if you were “in” or “out”. Because you just wanted to be you. And you were you without judgement or drama or pretense. If the world were more like you, Cassie, there’d be a lot less fighting and a lot more pizza parties. A lot less judging and a lot more rainbows. A lot less angry and a lot more tie-dyed t-shirts. A lot less wars and a lot more Disney weekends with the coolest kind of family you could ask for - Enrique, Calvin, and Natalie. You wrote on your Instagram page, a quote from the poet Maya Angelou, “Be a rainbow in someone’s cloud”. That was you - a rainbow. Can someone be a rainbow and an angel at the same time? Why not, you’d wonder. Do the impossible, you’d say. And of course, you were both. This past month, Jacob talked a lot about how much he had in common with you. About how much he appreciated you. And about how you were becoming an even better version of the already amazing you. He said you were working on your health, eating salads for lunch and going to the gym at the clubhouse….and on reaching out more. Which is why when you reached out to go biking with him on Monday, he immediately said yes. He was so excited to spend more time with you. You were becoming an even brighter light - a candle who helped light the darkness for the rest of us by being full of joy, peace, and self assurance. And you did that. You brought joy and light to everyone you touched. The Buddha once said, “Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” You lit thousands of candles of joy, Cassie from your light - from your love. But your candle was cut short.
And maybe that’s why this this all happened. Why you can’t be with us anymore. Because you were too bright of a light. For your parents, your brother, your family, and your friends, you were a candle whose light in our everyday life will be missed so painfully. We are in
anguish and feel the emptiness left behind. There are no words. But perhaps, you now have a bigger job to do. A bigger role to play. You were an angel here on earth but now, you are an angel for us all. And you can share the light of love and joy and maybe yes, some Tinkerbell magic pixie dust to bring some smiles to a world that cries too much.
Only hours after you passed, Ariel and I caught our first flight home. And in the air, 30000 feet up, a rainbow unlike any other we'd ever seen lit the sky. That was you. On Thursday, when Jacob returned to school and walked to his drama class, he felt a gentle nudge on his shoulder. When he looked to see who it’d been, there was no one around. It was you. And when we look to the sky and see a rainbow, we’ll know it’s you. We will keep applying the lessons you taught us: to be kind and loving. To not judge others. To greet each day with a smile. And to dream.
Cassie, we wish it hadn’t happened. We wish this day wasn’t here. You were too young. You had too much ahead of you. And so many people whose world you lit up. It doesn’t seem right or fair. And we know you are here with us right now and we know you’re here for so many more people now that your spirit is free and untethered to your earthly body. And you’re smiling to us all.
Jacob remembers as you met up that day, it was the most beautiful, peaceful day. And you reached each other at exactly the same time at the entrance of your neighborhood. You both laughed at how perfect it was and started your ride towards Starbucks. As you exited the gates of Pembroke Falls you both commented on how beautiful a day it was. And as you crossed the street, a car came into your path. But the last expression Jacob saw - that last moment on your face when you were here with us, was your smile. And that’s how you will be remembered. And that’s what you’ll continue to give this world.
Rest in Peace our angel, we will treasure your memory.