ArrDee

So here are mine.

From the day that I knew you were coming into this world, I loved you.

What I didn't know is what fools you would be to reckon with.

You defied all stages you were meant to be at, walking and talking before I could blink.

You had this light in you that shone so brightly, my little smiley Riley.

I will always say, this boy has been here before.

She did used to say that a lot.

I used to think, what the fuck does that even mean?

But yeah, I used to say this boy had been here before.

Your ability to read emotions in a room and the empathy that you radiated was and still is wondrous.

But I often wonder at what cost to you.

I hope you know what a beautiful human you have grown to be.

When I think back to your teen years, I'm so glad that I hung on to those battle ropes, no matter how hard you tried to shake them.

LAUGHTER There's nothing a cheese ham, chorizo and chilli mayo sub can't fix.

I told you I like my mum's packed lunches.

I know!

You tell the truth.

No matter how mad I get slash got at things you did slash do, sneaking off to an Essex studio at 14, I could never and still can't stay mad at you.

You have all this to come and I'm so grateful to be able to be part of this new chapter of life that is unfolding.

I've never been so proud of watching the man you were during your daughter's journey into the world.