A year ago, I lost a friend

I’ve been blogging here on WordPress for a good few years now. And in those 3ish(?) years, I’ve learned a lot of things.

I’ve learned about myself, I’ve learned about other people and their stories, both similar to mine and completely different.

But the thing that’s made the biggest impact is the actual, genuine, real friendships that I’ve made. While these friendships typically start as just a comment here and there on each others blogs, many times, these friendships have grown outside of the platform of WordPress, and turn into people I text with or talk to daily.

Ashley was one of my friends.

One year ago today, my friend, and a blogger here who MANY of us knew, killed herself.

I had gotten to know her well over the course of a few years, and she was one of the first people to find my blog, and become a true friend.

We talked daily, and our friendship grew beyond the bounds of just WordPress.

She was an advocate and a support for many of us here on WordPress, specifically within the mental health community.

She had a lot of people who loved her and cared about her, and she actively supported us as well.

But depression doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t care who you are or what you do. It tells you lies.

It’ll make you feel alone, unworthy, unwanted….but none of those things are true.

Ashley fought for a long time. And it just got to be too much.

I miss her and think about her often.

A year ago, I lost a friend. It didn’t have to be that way. I wish I could’ve done more. I saw it coming, and it wasn’t a surprise to me. But it hurt like hell nonetheless.

Please, please know this.

My inbox is ALWAYS open. If you ever need support, or someone to talk to, or vent to, or if you feel like you need a friend, send me an email. I promise I’ll see it.

You don’t have to fight this fight alone. No one does.

We’re not meant to fight alone.

People need other people.

Ashley, I miss you. You’ve made an impact of a lot of peoples lives. And you’re still an important person in my life.

I just wish it didn’t end that way.