erin walker :: august 6, 1977 - october 23, 1994

when i close my eyes

she's too young to be forgottenher world has only just begunher future is an empty slatewaiting to be filledand i see herstanding therewhen i close my eyes

dancing in the skyover moonbeams, around cloudsstarlight in her eyesangels in her hairand i see herwhen i close my eyes

child of the sunlightdaughter of the daysleeping on bed of roseswith flowers in her hair

the wind it softly kissed her cheekthe raindrops fell like tears

and i see herwhen i close my eyes

a thousand white candlestheir flames dancing with the airas rocks play tag with ocean

she's fast asleepnever to be woken

and i see herwhen i close my eyes

© catherine healyOctober 23, 1994

~~>--<@>--<~~

In 1994, I was 18. I was in my second year of CEGEP. I was finally in the same school as one of my closest friends.  It was a cold, wet, miserable October 22-23rd weekend. I remember sitting in choir practice waiting for them to arrive. It was only the day before that she and I had said "See you at choir!". I didn't know why they had not shown up yet. Choir practice seemed so long and dull and people were missing who were normally there. When mass started, I knew something was wrong. It was only after mass had ended that I found out - my friend and her mother had been in a car accident earlier that day.One of my closest friends was in the hospital and her mother, one of my mother's closest friends, didn't make it. I spent that night wide awake in shock and grief. The next day, Sunday, I wrote the song above. Only later on did I find out that I wrote it almost at the exact same time Erin had passed away. Ever since then, I have posted the lyrics as a tribute on the anniversary of her passing.She will always be 17.Just realized, this anniversary is now as many years as she lived. That realization is almost as crushing as finding out about the accident. How can it be the same length of time as a person's life? That doesn't seem possible.This post is dedicated to Heather & Erin. I miss you and I am a better person having had you in my life for those 18 years.