DEAR DANNY
It’s been one year since you married my best friend. Today should be the day that we all spend looking through the photos reminiscing how beautiful she looked, how happy you looked together and what a special day it was. We can still do all those things, except you’re not here to do it with us.
They say when someone dies, that you go through many different stages. From shock, denial, disbelief, anger, depression and acceptance. I don’t know what stage I’m in, but I can say today is the first day, that I have cried, really cried. I think the surrealism of you dying in the middle of a basketball game only 6 weeks after you marrying Kate, has prevented me from being able to really feel the full effects of what happened. My instinct was to do what I needed to do, to support her through what was happening, and in order for me to be strong and support her, I had to numb myself to the sadness.
With me living on the other side of the country, we never really got the chance to get to know each other like we should have, since you moved to Australia from the U.S. to be with our girl. What I can say is this. In the 9 years you knew Kate, no-one ever made her happy like you did, and that was all I needed to know. Meeting you the times that I did, was a real privilege and an honour.
There are so many things I want to say, but I can’t find the words – how can anyone really find the words to fully convey your loss and what you meant to the people who loved you? There are many people who love your wife, and I am one of them. I know that nothing will ever take the place of you, but I promise you this. I will keep loving her and looking after her. Forever.
We miss you.
Love Gaynor X
