Last night, I lost my twin. My Shay. My moon. And with her passing, a piece of my soul feels like it has gone quiet. There are no words big enough to describe the emptiness left behind by my best friend since birth. Nothing will ever truly fill the space she held in my life.

Today, I am taking time. I’m not accepting calls as I try to process a world that suddenly feels unfamiliar. You can message me — I may not respond right away. Please know I’m not alone, and I am being supported as I navigate this unimaginable loss.

Shay was everything I aspired to be. She lived boldly, unapologetically, and with a fire that could light up the darkest room. Her desire to experience life fully — to chase joy, to take risks, to love deeply — constantly pulled me out of my shell. When I hesitated, she leaped. When I doubted, she believed. She was my mirror and my opposite, my comfort and my courage.

Right now, my heart aches in ways I didn’t know were possible. My mind feels numb. My body feels weak. Grief is heavy, and it settles into every breath. But even in this pain, I know something for certain: she would not want me to fade away. She would want me to keep going. To keep living. To keep shining.

Shay’s spirit lives in me — in my laughter, in my strength, in the risks I will take because she taught me to be brave. I will carry her in my heart every single day.

My twin. My Shay. My moon.