07/05/2026
Around this time one year ago, Troy died.
Troy was one of the greatest loves of my life. We were deeply in love during the years when you are still becoming who you will be, and he became part of that shaping.
He was part of my youth.
Part of my becoming.
That is why his death felt so personal, even after so much time had passed.
For years, he still existed somewhere in the world. Life moved forward. We became different people. The memories grew older, but he was still alive.
And then he was not.
Troy was deeply loved by so many people. At his funeral, there was not enough room for everyone who came to honor him. Later, people gathered at the state park with stories, laughter, tears, and memories.
That was who he was.
Magnetic. Funny. Quick-witted. Loyal. Fiercely devoted to his family and friends.
He was also strikingly handsome and an incredible hockey player, strong and powerful on the ice, yet graceful enough to make it look effortless.
Some people pass through our lives.
Others become part of who we are.
Troy was one of those people.
Some love stories do not disappear just because life moves forward. They remain in the photographs, the stories, the sound of skates cutting across the ice, and the parts of ourselves they helped create.
Around one year gone, Troy.
Still loved.
Still remembered.
Still part of who I became. 🕯️🏒