Dear River,

I look around and see all the things that
you are missing now. 

Can you see that the leaves are in bloom, 
and that summertime is upon us? 
I am sure that you can see from where you are,
but can you feel the leaves between your fingers.
Can you hear the sounds of summer? 
I pray that you can.
I want to believe that you are with us, 
walking among us.
Feeling these things for yourself,
with your own senses, 
I want to know that you still enjoy life in some way, in some form.

I have a lot to tell you.
I am older now,
close to your age when you left us.
I will be 23 this year, and 
I have still held fast to those beliefs
that you painstakingly tried to get
across to people to share with you.
I have never forgotten you,
and the things that you have taught me.
I can still hear your voice,
and see your face,
and the way that you could always look
into a person's eyes and feel their pain.

They are trying to release your music now too.
I hope you know that.
Maybe, just maybe, with a little bit of luck,
the world will be able to hear your music,
just like you have always wanted.
That would be a fitting tribute, don't you agree?

I will close now.
I just want you to know
that I still love you for who you are,
and I still respect you.
You will always be my biggest inspiration.

Thank you so much for your gift to me,
and to all of us.

Beautiful souls have swam here times.