#ripashleyervin

The Floating Lanterns.

Tragedy struck when a friend of mine passed away from the most simple accident. The world was devastated. She had never done any wrong to anyone and was a friend to all.

The Friday that I had to attend her funeral, I felt lost. I was completely struck by grief that the most horrible thing had to happen to such a wonderful person. Everywhere I looked, I just saw suffering. People’s eyes were filled with tears as everyone bowed their heads and slumped their shoulders, walking dejectedly into the church. I got many hugs from people who were also close to her, and together we just sobbed and held each other. As the casket was rolled into the church, graced with gorgeous flowers atop of it, I just couldn’t stop thinking of the beautiful girl that lied inside of it and what she could’ve been. Pictures of her flashed on a screen, and I felt sick to my stomach from the grief.

Later that evening, my high school class gathered at the house of one of the girls who had been especially close to Ashley. It had always been Ashley’s dream to send off a floating paper lantern into the sky, so we decided we should send them up in her name.

The numbers that showed up were astounding. Almost our entire grade came, and together we walked silently to the high school campus onto the soccer field. At first one lantern went up in the sky, then 10 more followed, then 20, and so forth. The sky was lit up not only by the lanterns but by Ashley’s presence. We all felt it, and after all the lanterns were released we gathered together and embraced each other, watching the lanterns float away peacefully.

And that was when I felt hope. Hope that everything, and everyone, was going to be okay. Hope that Ashley had been truly content how she lived and loved. Hope that I’d have a beautiful crowd of friends to help get me through this rough time. And the marvelous reality that, no matter how dark and lost we all felt, we could all find a light together. And we did, side by side. As the glowing lanterns lit up the night sky, I felt at peace. It was a pure moment of marvelous reality that I know I’ll always treasure.