I met my best friend, Erin, when we were fifteen years old. We connected instantly through a shared love of music, art and sarcasm. We were soul sisters from the beginning, best friends, and bonded for life. We were two young girls hosting sleepovers together and driving our parents mad with our loud music and cackling laughter.

The two of us experienced the wonder of exploration and adventure together; rituals and rites of passage connected us. When we were both 20 years old, we began experimenting with drugs. But eventually, it took us both on a downward spiral of complete self-destruction. I was able to save myself, and I desperately wanted to save her too. But in the end, I couldn’t.

I watched my best friend go through the pangs, twangs, needles, nods, and heinousness of addiction. I witnessed the drugs slowly turn her into an unrecognizable egocentric monster. It was beyond heartbreaking. I became completely consumed with trying to help my best friend and doing whatever I could to keep her alive.

Erin’s heart became severely damaged over time because of her continued drug use and use of dirty needles. Erin died on Monday, January 29, 2018. She was just 27 years old.

Erin was kind, genuine, funny, down-to-earth, loving, and loyal. She was a wonderful friend, daughter, sister, and niece. I will never let her beautiful soul be forgotten. She will be with me forever.