When I was in sixth grade, I met one the most special people of my entire life. I met my good friend Veronica. In the year 2012, I joined a choir called Metropolitan Youth Orchestra Chorus (MYO). MYO has always been so important to me because I gained so many friends from participating in the chorus. Out of every person I’ve met there, there is one that has effected my life more than anyone else has. Her name was Veronica. She was beautiful and kind. She was a friend to everyone. She had clear, porcelain skin, silky short hair, and eyes like no other. Her eyes were what always stood out to me. They were luminous with a blue-green color, and they just sparkled. Veronica certainly did look different from the other kids, though. She walked with a walker, and wore a bandanna to cover her head. Veronica had pelvic cancer.

I never heard Veronica ever complain. That girl always had a smile on her face, and goodness in her heart. She was always ready to sing, making new friends, and she would laugh all the time. I can most certainly say that Veronica was the most positive person I have ever met. She was facing nightmares, but that did not stop her from seeing the beauty of this world. I always knew Veronica was beautiful. She had a glow that could light up a room. One night, walking into MYO rehearsal, I noticed she had gotten rid of her bandanna. One would think that seeing someone’s hair for the first time, people would just notice that person’s hair. But, for some reason, that night was the first time that Veronica eyes just stood out like there was nothing else in the world. They shone so bright along with her beautiful smile. I knew then that Veronica was special to me.

The next year of MYO, we would become best friends. We sat next to each other during rehearsals, so we always chatted together . Veronica would always make me laugh with her humor. She always told stories about her pets. She was a real animal lover. She spent her time rescuing animals, adopting them, and giving them homes. We would text back and forth on our phones time and time again. As the year went on, she seemed to be getting better as well. She stopped chemo therapy, so she was growing out her hair, she wasn’t walking with a big walker anymore, but a small cane. I was just so glad I had someone as happy and bright as Veronica in my life. I was even happier when she was getting better.

The next school year, MYO started again. My friend, Josh, had come into rehearsal looking a bit worn down and gloomy. I went to the bathroom quickly before rehearsal started, and came back to find my friends all frowning. I asked my friend, Jacqueline what had happened, and she responded “Veronica is dead”. A sharp, yet numbing, feeling sprung from my toes and traveled throughout my entire body. Thinking I misheard her, I asked “what?” and she repeated that painful sentence again. The noise of her words rang through my head again and again. I felt dizzy, I felt as if the world around me just stopped. That night, October 2nd, 2014, was easily one of the worst nights of my life. I broke down into tears, and I could not get through the rehearsal. I had to call my mom to tell her what was going on, and as much as the sentence “Veronica is dead” was disheartening to hear, it hurt 100 times more to say it.

The next evening, I attended Veronica’s wake. I walked up to Veronica’s lifeless body and took it all in. Her skin was still clear and flawless. She was wearing a dull blue beanie. She had a pillow next to her that said “No outfit is complete without dog hair”. Those stunning eyes were shut, and were never to be seen again. It hurt me inside. Like I said, Veronica, when I saw her last, seemed to be recovering, so I had no idea this would happen. There is no feeling like seeing your friend happy and healthy, and seeing her 4 months later, dead in a casket. It’s a feeling that I would never want to feel again. It’s a feeling that nobody should feel, but unfortunately many do.

I sat and heard all the speeches told about her. All the family members told stories of her humor, kindness, and beauty. All the stories were so beautiful, but there was one that stood out in particular. Veronica’s aunt shared her experience with Veronica, but referred to Veronica as “Brave Beauty”. This phrase gave me chills when I first heard it. It was the most accurate, way to describe Veronica. She was a “Brave Beauty”. These two words inspired me to write a whole song dedicated to Veronica. I wrote “Brave Beauty” within two weeks after she died. Later in the school year, I wrote an a Capella arrangement for the CMS a Capella group to perform at Commack’s Relay for Life. I met Veronica through music, so I feel that the best way to share her is through music.

Not a day goes by where I don’t think about Veronica. Sometimes I just feel so angry that her time here was so short, and such a beautiful human being didn’t live past 14. I wish I had a longer time with her. But, I’m so thankful I got to get to know such an inspiring person like her. I thank God for giving me the time I had with her. She has had such an impact on me these past years. Veronica has taught me to always approach life with a smile. No matter how dark and scary things get, there is always something to be happy about. I miss my friend dearly, and I believe that Veronica is still singing with me always.