This is the essay Ashley wrote for her college admissions. The Byrne family received this from Ashley in May 2005. The question the essay was in response to was: "Who or what has had the biggest impact on your life, and why?" Ashley wrote about Regina. Ashley says about her essay, that "it is extremely sad, but uplifting in a sense as well. I received letters and comments back about this essay from Deans of Admissions from my schools I applied to. All saying how deeply sorry they were for the loss of Regina, and how much of an amazing person she seemed to be. And that she was..." Ashley went on to say that she was sending this "simply because it is amazing to me how Regina is still touching people's lives everyday...even people who never knew her..."

 

One Simple Smile

 

I never imagined I would say these words. Never in my wildest nightmares did I think that at sixteen years old I would have to literally allow these words to come out of my mouth. It is not something that anyone wants to do, or ever even thinks they would have to do. Who honestly thinks that at such a young age, she would have to prepare a speech to say goodbye to her deceased friend?

 

There I stood at Regina’s memorial service, with a pit in the bottom of my stomach. The tears dropped from my eyes and I gasped for my breath as I walked to the podium. It wasn’t that I was nervous to talk about her life and what she meant to me, it was that I was simply indescribably hurt and found myself asking why to everything. Why would you take someone so young? She wasn’t even driving, it wasn’t her fault, why her? As everyone’s eyes filled with tears I began my speech…

 

 “A few days before December 2^nd, Regina and I were on line chatting, as we often were. We began to oddly reminisce about our countless memories this past summer had brought to us; from the many rainy days to our always exciting adventures like sinking the canoe and getting into our little biking accident. We discussed how special and meaningful this summer had been to the two of us. Even on those many rainy days Regina had each and every one of us up and out of the house, for she wanted us to dance in the rain. Her spirit, her smile and her passion for life were things no one will ever forget… there was something about this 15 year old, she treasured life and she truly appreciated it. You could tell that each day she woke up and thanked God that she was alive, and that the people she loved were too. While being on line that day, I happened to check Regina’s profile, and as odd as this was, the main page was titled ‘All the Things that Make Life Beautiful’. In this she listed things like catching snow on her tongue, laughing until your stomach hurts and butterfly kisses.

 

It is unspeakably horrible that our Regina Rose will never get to laugh until her stomach hurts, or catch snow on her tongue again. The amazing person that Regina was will never be forgotten. Her spirit, along with memories of her and her love will always remain in our hearts. She has enriched so many of our lives, as she has shown us why to love and appreciate life, just as much as she did. Regina Rose Byrne was always an angel, now God is giving her her very own set of wings.”

 

As I finished my speech I looked up at a church full of tear-filled eyes, and aching hearts. I noticed in particular a little girl, one of Regina’s cousins.