Elyssa's Mission: Who's Elyssa?

What I Learned from Elyssa

by Margaret Feldheim

I am seventeen years old and graduating high school in the spring. I was Elyssa's good family friend and neighbor. I was only thirteen when Elyssa died. When Elyssa got her driver's license we would take trips to get food or go shopping. I remember one time quite clearly, we were going to get her homecoming dress. It was black with a pink ribbon that tied at the waist. Most girls would have looked at her and envied her beauty as she looked gorgeous in anything. I never had met a girl with such style, beauty and intelligence. Elyssa had the ability to light up a room or make your day with her smile. She was someone special to me. She was that older sister I never had. She would even give me her "hand me downs" like an older sister.

Even though Elyssa is not here with us she still helps me every day. She has led me to people I thought I would never find or meet. I feel her with me everywhere I go. If there is anything I have learned from Elyssa it is to be respectful and kind to one another. I never got to tell Elyssa the place she had in my heart. Most of all I never got to say "I LOVE YOU!" Writing this letter is my way of telling her how much I did love her and always will.


		What I Learned from Elyssa by Margaret Feldheim I am seventeen years old and graduating high school in the spring. I was Elyssa's good family friend and neighbor. I was only thirteen when Elyssa died. When Elyssa got her driver's license we would take trips to get food or go shopping. I remember one time quite clearly, we were going to get her homecoming dress. It was black with a pink ribbon that tied at the waist. Most girls would have looked at her and envied her beauty as she looked gorgeous in anything. I never had met a girl with such style, beauty and intelligence. Elyssa had the ability to light up a room or make your day with her smile. She was someone special to me. She was that older sister I never had. She would even give me her "hand me downs" like an older sister. Even though Elyssa is not here with us she still helps me every day. She has led me to people I thought I would never find or meet. I feel her with me everywhere I go. If there is anything I have learned from Elyssa it is to be respectful and kind to one another. I never got to tell Elyssa the place she had in my heart. Most of all I never got to say "I LOVE YOU!" Writing this letter is my way of telling her how much I did love her and always will.