(November 1, 2009) -- Tori Rowles and Melody Ross were very close friends. Roughly twelve hours after a shooting outside Wilson High School took Melody's life, Ms. Rowles came to the location and with her classmates began building a heartfelt memorial. Despite her intense grief, we watched as she comforted her classmates. We asked another person if they had a photo of Melody; that person summoned Ms. Rowles, who showed us a photo on her wireless device; we made a quick (and poor) photographic copy and asked if she could email us a clear copy. She agreed...and despite the day's wrenching events, kept her word. At about 3:30 a.m., Ms. Rowles emailed us photos as well as a letter she wrote to Melody. LBReport.com publishes her letter and her photos in keeping with her wishes.
Dear Melody V. Ross,
You were truly my best friend that I have ever had. I have never been so close to anyone else. You were truly like a sister to me. We were totally unseparable.
Melody Ross at left, Tori Rowles at right
I miss you soooo much. Why did this have to happen to you??? I don't think I can ever live my life the way it was with you here.
Everyone keeps telling me you're in a better place...but I think your place is here with us. And I know that's selfish but I need you Melody Ross!
I don't think I will ever believe that you are gone...You will always be with me and there isn't a day where I don't think about you and about how much of a great friend you are to me, honestly the best friend any person can have!
And I was sooo lucky and blessed that we are best friends Melody. I would do absolutely anything to have you back. You don't even know how much I miss you, how much I love you, how much I can't stop thinking about you, how much I need you!
I pray for you every chance I can get and I'm not even religious at all and you know that! All of my prayers go out to you and your family that is hurting sooo much more than I am which I can't even begin to wonder because I'm in sooo much pain.
I know that we will be together again someday. Please make sure you keep an eye out for everyone. You honestly don’t know how many people love you.
I know you would have been so excited to see how many people came for you and left flowers and all sorts of goodies at your memorial, and from now on I will do everything for the both of us. I will finish what we started together Melody. Don't you worry!
All of those clubs we were going to start (I'll make sure no one takes VP cause that's for you! ;)), governors of publicity ("Vote M & T for publicity!"), homecoming, winter formal, or prom queen and maybe even fashion design just for you baby!
You're my inspiration for living life to the fullest and my number one hero! "You can fly now supergirl!!"
I LOVE YOU, and FOREVER WILL! ♥ Your true best friend forever,
