No one expected it to happen... That July started so normal, yet it went so wrong so fast.

We were at my house, my whole family, getting ready for the 4th of July back in 2022. I was excited to see my family again.

It had been so long since we last each other on Memorial Day. A whole two months. I couldn't wait to have a great time with them.

They arrived, one by one, at my house, and we all greeted each other when another aunt or cousin came in.

Time flew as we ate dinner, launched fireworks, had dessert, and spent quality time as a family. We played games, swam in the pool, and talked. We enjoyed each other's company as families do.

The night slowly came to an end. They all eventually left, probably an hour later than they would have wanted to, but they all went out.

That was the last night we were all together.  I never thought that things would change so quickly. Monday, July 25th, 2022, my mother got the call of my aunt's death. She died between 1:00 and 3:00 pm at her desk at work

I heard my mother running around and crying from the other room. At first, I didn't know what had happened, but I assumed that something very bad had happened. I thought that maybe it was my grandparents or cousins, but it never crossed my mind that it would be my aunt.

She quickly hurried out of the house to my cousin's house. It was all so strange and so sudden. 

Shortly after, my dad broke the news to my brother and me that she had died. I was shocked. How could this happen? So many questions and no answers. I didn't know how to feel. How could someone like her just be gone? She wasn't supposed to go this early. Why is all of this happening?

The rest of the day was spent in silence and confusion. It wasn't until the next morning that I saw anyone.

My cousins came over, and we went to get food. We still hadn't processed what happened. No one knew how to act or what to say. It was so unexpected we couldn't predict it.

Tears were shed, and jokes were made. We tried to hold it together and make it through the day. The mood got better as the day went on.

The next few days and weeks were long and hard. Most of them were spent going through belongings, filing paperwork, and planning the funeral.

It then took place the Saturday after she died, five days later. I knew it was going to be a long day and very emotional.

We all meet to set up pictures of her and flowers around the altar. It was beautiful. Just how'd she want it. Slowly, one by one, the guests arrived with flowers and greetings. 

Hugs were exchanged, and there was crying all around. It was the longest hour of my life. It dragged on and on for what felt like days. I never knew my aunt knew so many people. So many new faces I didn't know and people I hadn't seen since I was little. It was nice to see them again, but the room still had a dark, sad feeling over it.

It was depressing to see so many sad people at once. I wished everything would just fix itself and go back to normal. As the priest walked in, everyone hushed to listen. He started with an obituary of her life, how it was filled with amazing people and her family and friends.