From the moment you and your sister were born my heart has been full of a love I never thought was humanly possible. As a baby you were filled with wonder and so much energy. You had a beautiful, mischievous and inquisitive nature, which has always made me smile.
You were climbing, running and jumping everywhere. You’d walk into a room wearing shoes that were four times, five times, 10 times too big for you … Sometimes they were ye mother’s. The sound of your laughter is one of the most beautiful compositions made by nature.
I am so blessed to be a part of your life, and our friendship is something I hold dear to my heart. That beautiful bouncing boy has grown into a man who brightens up a room whenever he walks into it. I have had the pleasure of watching you grow, of watching you learn the lessons of life, like how you conducted yourself when your heart was broken for the first time.
To watch you navigate that pain with compassion and come out the other side appreciating your worth without holding on to any resentments, showing your vulnerability to me and your mother and allowing us to guide you through – that was truly admirable. You’re the glue that holds friendships together – you give 110% to all of your relationships. You are a fantastic listener, never judgmental.
You have the humility to sit with a prince or a pauper and treat them both equally with dignity and respect. I think one thing I’ve passed on to you is the quality of a proper hug, and anyone who knows you would completely agree. The little voices you do, your silly impressions, and I love watching the double act you and your mum have created, especially when yous take the piss out of me (I am 5ft 6in).
One of my fondest memories is when you and me went out to play football. We climbed over the school gate, wheeled out the goals and had the best game of shootie the world has ever seen (I think I won 10-9). When we got home and knocked on the front door we were covered from head to toe in mud.
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