Dear Jessie (from Donella)

 dear jessie,

when i think about the word authenticity, you, jessica ann sprinkle, immediately come to mind. through the many many years together at mulberry, you never failed to be 110% yourself. i cannot even begin to explain how devastated i am.

you had an energy that lit up the world, and i know that you lived the most full and beautiful seventeen years. you lived the lives of a thousand people. not a single second was wasted because every second of your life was spent being the truest realest version of yourself. 

my admiration for you will continue even if you are not physically here with us. your unconditional kindness and relentless determination to love the world inspires me.

upon hearing about the accident, i was in disbelief. i cannot imagine our mulberry class without you, and i am shattered that you are gone. emily and i talked about the guilt we feel knowing that you were the one who least deserved this. your taste for adventure and deep appreciation of everything deserved lifetimes. you savored every experience and moment, and i know that you are someone who truly only put good into the world.

emily, isabella, you and i were the only four girls in our class, and the connection we had was a treasure. we were each others cheerleaders, best friends and sisters.

we were girls together.

i know you would not want us to be burdened with sorrow, but the pain in my heart is indescribable. the world is cruel, but you were the definition of sunshine, kindness and all things good.

tragedies like this remind us that no moment is guaranteed. i am having a hard time believing that i will not see your smiling face at reunions, and i will not hear about your new life in hawaii.

we should strive to live like you. appreciating the world for everything good it brings. fighting malice with kindness. saving bugs. climbing trees. spreading love. and of course being true to yourself.

you were the embodiment of sunshine, and im so grateful to have had you as one of my best friends.

you are so loved, missed and remembered jessie. 

forever our dancing queen. 

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

my thoughts and prayers go out to your parents, loved ones and any of those whose lives were lucky enough to be touched by you. may we all live life fearlessly and love unconditionally as you did.