Rachel Tryon               

   For me talking about my feelings isn't something I easily do ... I usually keep my deepest feelings inside. So when people ask me to talk about Em or how I feel about, it takes me a while to truly come out with what I want to say and right now all I can say is that I miss my best friend. So much is going on in my life right now, so many thoughts and new things and all I can think about is what would Em be doing, would she be playing volleyball in college, what day would her open house be, what new bathing suit would she have been sooo excited to get this spring break, where would she even be going for spring break?! All of these questions and no answers ... 

   Emily was my best friend, I know a lot of people probably say that, but she was. We had such a close bond no matter what, sometimes we would start becoming closer with someone else but we always ended up back together. This year has been so difficult and a lot of my Jr year because I didn't know what I was going to do without her, almost every day we would go to each others houses, we'd call each other the night before school to see what each other would wear to school, got ready for sporting events together, stand by each other and cheer the whole game, went to Grand Haven when we weren't supposed to, hung out with Justin Gillons (she loved hanging w/him, I could've cared less) when we weren't supposed to. Just so much that is soooo different now. But we all learn to live on and adjust even though it's the hardest thing to do. But I know no one will ever fill that void. Sometimes I feel so lost and confused and want to just know why ... talk to her, ask her how it is in heaven, I want to know what her thoughts were when the accident happened, and in the hospital, how was she really feeling. Em was such a trooper through it all. She was always such a great friend, a great person ... she's missed everyday by so many. She was a normal girl, just like all of us, but she had such a lasting impression on everyone's life. I will love you and miss you forever Emily Jo Duits. lylas Rach