The day we first saw Kayln’s headstone in the cemetery was an emotionally devastating day. Somehow this headstone made her absence feel more final. As we stared at the stone in silence, the breeze blew the wind chimes hanging in the old tree a few feet away. The sound was comforting to us as we stood there, aching with the emptiness that accompanies such a profound loss.

We had worked for weeks on perfecting the design, and now we reflected on each detail of the stone. We chose the blue-grey marble because Kayln’s eyes were a stunning blue, and we thought it fitting to pick this color. Looking at the engraved dates made me feel completely broken. Only twenty years old. Why did it have to be this way? I traced the edges of the opened Bible etched into the stone, and the beautiful rose lying across the pages.

The inscription, “Forever in Our Hearts,” etched across the bottom, seemed a fitting way to say how much we treasure her. This stone that we had labored over was tragically perfect, a tribute to her life. No matter how many years pass, she will still be a part of us. Her memory will live on in our hearts, and we will not forget Kayln or the impact she has made on our lives.