I will always remember

Happy 21st Birthday, Matt.

Thank you for making my childhood so enjoyable. Thank you for sticking by me, even when our families drifted apart. I will never forget the times we spent together; the Barbie dolls that were destroyed; the mischief we caused. I will never forget the food fights or the water fights; the long meaningful conversations; the fun we had.

I still remember the time we snuck into your parents room and discovered your parents secret stash of sex toys and the time we then spent trying to figure out what they were used for. I remember the time you gave me a dead bird for my birthday so I gave you dog turd wrapped in toilet paper. I remember when you broke your arm and we made snowmen on plastic boxes.

Cicadas. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Barbie dolls. Plastic pools. I cannot help but remember you whenever I think of any of these things. I'm sorry I didn't have the strength to say goodbye to you the way you deserved, but I have never stopped thinking of you.

I will never forget you. Thank you for being a wonderful friend; my best friend. I wish you could be here today -- your 21st birthday. Today is your day, Matt. I always thought I would be celebrating this day with you. I wish you had been given the chance to really live. I will never stop thinking of you. I will never stop loving you.

Happy 21st Birthday.

Matthew Marshall Turner.

15/9/83 - 4/11/99