It was the day before Easter, or Easter eve as I called it. I was seven at the time and there were a bunch of people at my mom’s friends’ house having a holiday b-b-q. All of the ‘usual’ people were there, except for my friend’s mom Sherrie, because she had to work. I loved going to their b-b-q’s. They had kids my age that I had grown up with so we all were really close. It was a very happy day, you know like on old movies where everything seems perfect; everyone is laughing, having a great time, with delicious food, a warm wood stove, and not another care in the world…the way holidays are supposed to be.

I was sitting on the couch drinking my hot cocoa when Sherrie pulled up the drive. We were excited to see her, until she walked through the door. She looked like a ghost. She gave her daughter a kiss and then asked all of us to go watch a movie in the bedroom. Her voice sounded so sad. We all could tell, something was terribly wrong.

The five of us kids sat with our ears pressed against the bedroom wall in silence, trying to hear the secret the adults were talking about. The next thing I knew I heard my mother scream. I panicked. It was the worst thing I have ever heard in my life, and I hope I never have to hear anything like it again. I could hear the tears in my mom’s voice. My mind was racing. Why is she so upset? What happened? Is everyone OK? But my thoughts were interrupted by my mom opening the bedroom door.

I can still see the tears in the adult’s eyes. My mom spoke in front of us all. She slowly explained that my four year old cousin Danielle had fallen into a pond earlier that day and drowned. It hit me hard. So hard. I, unlike some of the other kids there, knew what this meant. I understood what “dead” meant. What I didn’t understand was why her? Why Danielle? She was the cutest, sweetest and funniest little girl in the whole world. How could she be gone? This doesn’t happen to me! I only saw terrible things like this on t.v. I was in complete and total shock.

I will spare you the depressing aftermath of that day. April 22^nd2000 is a day I will never forget. My family has not been the same since the accident. It has been hard, but we have picked up the pieces as well as possible.

I wish she wouldn’t have left me, but it was probably better for her. God has a plan everyone. She lived a hard life for only being four years old. My uncle got a divorce from her drug addicted mother and had just been awarded full custody of Danielle and my other cousin Paul before she died. It’s hard to believe she would be 13 now. It feels like it was just yesterday when it happened.

I know that death is just another part of life, but I never want to feel that sad again. I love Danielle Mariah Ray Reed with all of my heart! She will never be forgotten by anyone.