Isla Gomez

I think about him being there.

I think about him being in this close-up space.

So I worry a lot at night.

Like, what if he's panicking and we don't know?

What if he's holding strong, but he's actually having the hardest time in his life?

Like, that's what constantly replays in my head.

So it just felt like my whole heart got ripped out of my chest because I never got to really say a proper goodbye, like, I'll see you later.

I'll give it to my dad.

From the first day that he called us to speak to us, that man has holden strong.

He has the most positive energy, and so positive that he will see us and things will...

Go back to not normal, because I don't feel like anybody could really treat life as normal after this situation, but definitely better.

I'm the only one eligible to visit because I'm over 18.

But he told me like, as much as I would love to see you guys so much, just don't come here because this is not the person that I am.

And it would hurt to see you get up from that chair and turn your back and have to leave.

We open every conversation like...

He was here with us.

Like I'm walking into the house, saying hi to him.

Ben said, hi dad, how are you?

I missed you.

We continue lives how it is, on the phone.