47 Comments
User's avatar
Sandra Bruce's avatar

Lovely

R Michael's avatar

Oh Brent, this feels all too familiar. I'm so incredibly sorry about your friend. That specific, wrenching kind of grief is a heavy, lonely road. I went through something very similar when I lost my best friend, Tracie.

​For me, the healing didn't come right away, but it finally, truly did when I found the courage to write about her and say her name out loud.

Thank you for being so brave and generous with your story today. Wishing you strength and gentle passage through the difficult road ahead.

Brent Hartinger's avatar

Thank you, Michael. I'm sorry about Tracie too.

Adrian Landin's avatar

Some of the coolest friends I have were skinny, gay dorks back in the day. Just sayin'.

Beautiful tribute to a beautiful friend, thank you for sharing her with us. 🙏🏼✨

Brent Hartinger's avatar

Ain't it the truth?

Thanks for the nice words.

Lily Pond's avatar

Thank you for sharing your stories and memories of your dear friend Laura. Such tenderness and heartbreak. I just lost a friend of 3 decades yesterday, and couldn't help but ask, "Why didn't we spend more time together?" I do believe that we have a chance to be reunited with the spirits of the people we loved. I witnessed that during the liminal period when my friend was dying. He saw his grandma and conversed with her. He shared loving memories of her when he was young.

My deepest sympathies to you for your loss!

Brent Hartinger's avatar

Thank you very much, and I'm sorry about your loss, too. Sometimes life sucks.

Lily Pond's avatar

Thank you! Yes, we lose some (sometimes a lot) and gain some... such is life (interwined with death)!

Anthony Burke's avatar

It’s a beautiful story, Brent. Thank you for sharing it. Laura sounds amazing. I’m very sorry for your loss.

Brent Hartinger's avatar

Thank you, Anthony. That means a lot.

Milo's avatar

Thank you for sharing her beautiful words with us ❤️

Brent Hartinger's avatar

Thanks, Milo, I appreciate that.

MBHayes's avatar

I'm so sorry you lost your dear friend at such a young age. Thank you for the reminder that our best times in life - like rolling down a hill in the early morning - are those we share with other people. I'll look for her star in the sky tonight.

Brent Hartinger's avatar

I couldn't agree more -- it's all about those moments with others. Very little else matters.

April Henry's avatar

You really brought her to life. Thank you for sharing her.

Brent Hartinger's avatar

Thank you, April.

Maryn McKenna's avatar

I'm so very sorry for this loss. How lucky you were to have her in your life. I'm confident you'll meet again.

Brent Hartinger's avatar

Thank you that is sweet of you to say.

Molly Ringle's avatar

❤️❤️❤️ Hugs to you, Brent!

Brent Hartinger's avatar

Thank you, Molly.

Michael Young's avatar

I'm sorry for your loss, Brent. What a beautiful post. Thanks for sharing.

Brent Hartinger's avatar

Thank you, Michael.

Stefanie Schulenberg's avatar

I am so sorry that you now have to live a life without Laura in it; you have written a beautiful tribute to a really special person. You WILL meet again. Sending love.

Brent Hartinger's avatar

Thank you, that means a lot.

CJ Chang's avatar

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear this. I'm sure you'll meet Laura again and roll down your grassy hill. Take great care! Lots of hugs from the internet!

Matt McMann's avatar

What a beautiful tribute to a beautiful soul. Thank you for sharing this with us Brent. Much love and a big hug.

Brent Hartinger's avatar

Thank you Matt. I'll take that hug.

Linda Lee Cobb's avatar

You are so lucky and blessed to have such a beautiful friend as Laura, and Laura as you. She may be physically gone, but she lives in the hearts of all who loved her. Thank you for sharing.

Brent Hartinger's avatar

Aw, thank you, Linda.

Chris Crutcher's avatar

Hey Brent...If I'd known you back then I could have found you a much longer hill to roll down; given your feelings here, you both deserved the BEST hill. We get to be a certain age (I've got some years on you) and your story becomes more frequent...though there are a lot of human beings who don't ever experience a friendship like your and Laura's. I think you just helped a lot of people telling us about this one.

Brent Hartinger's avatar

Haha, yeah, I needed you to hook us up! But it's nice to know the exact hill to return too, and Riverfront Park is good at that.

Yeah, not entirely looking forward to this phase of life.