Any other day rain is welcome in my life, but not today.

Two years ago today, they all died too young. Two years ago today, countless lives were changed and four were ended. I think of their happy personalities and their cheery smiles that they all had most of the time, and then I look at the sky.

Today is not representative of them. Today’s clouds and rain and fog is not who they were. They were sunshine, 70 degrees, with a slight breeze. They were comfort.

Two years ago was a reminder that accidents happen and that sometimes, we can’t control what happens. Two years ago, a lot was changed. My school came together for the first time in a long time to mourn two of our own, but really four because they were around each other so much. Two years ago, we were all reminded how short life can be, and how quickly it can be taken away.

Two years ago, I was preparing for a week of funerals. A funeral for two sisters that included doves that represented Stephanie and Lyndsey perfectly. A funeral for a guy that was attended by almost every motorcycle rider in Alabama, because Joel wanted to be free like that with a casket that held all of people’s memories written on it. And Zach’s, that contained a mother that let her emotion just run over at the loss of her son. Each funeral was packed, because they were who they were.

Today is not them. They were sunny. They were happy. They were them. So this week, as much as I love rain, I need sunshine. Lots and lots of sunshine.

R.I.P. Joel Swinford, Stephanie and Lyndsey Baker, and Zach Livingston. We miss you!