Editor’s Note: For six years, freshman Billie Summerour has been a camper at Camp High Harbor, Cartersville, Ga. For two of those years, her camp counselor was Brittany Feldman, one of the four University of Georgia students killed in a car accident on April 28. What follows is a goodbye letter that Summerour wrote to a beloved friend and counselor.

Dear Brittany,

Do you remember when we were walking back to the leadership cabins and found a turtle on the side of the road? You being you, you wanted to take it back with us to keep as a pet, and when you picked it up it proceeded to pee on you. Our midnight renditions of “My House in Budapest” and shaving your legs as you ask if we have showered yet will always be some of my fondest memories of us together. You were my counselor, mom, sister, friend and role model. You sang me to sleep, and joyfully awakened me.

I thought that the only time I would cry over you would be waiting the 334 days until camp next year. Now, I know that it won’t be hundreds of days, but possibly years until I see you again. I took our time together for granted; I wish I had held on to more of our memories or savored more moments. But, honestly I wouldn’t have changed a single thing. If I had tried harder to be close to you or make more memories, they wouldn’t have been the same. They wouldn’t have been as special or as significant today if I had known what was coming.

You always made me smile whether you were “Coachella-ready” or in your teen angst phase. You were never afraid to bust-a-move on or off beat, or sing off-key. Except, you really could sing but would never admit it no matter how many people told you that you could. I admired the way you could so easily make someone’s day by simply walking up to them with a smile and asking “What did you do today?” You were my counselor by law, mother by love, sister by camp, friend by choice and role model by character. You had a unique way of infecting people with joy and laughter. You were one of those special kinds who was always true to herself, completely selfless, and had a smile that could light a room in seconds. You were and are someone that I wanted to be. You may not have known this but I’ve struggled with a lot of things in my life and you showed me that an effortless smile and a positive attitude aren’t ways to shield yourself from pain and grief, but a way to overcome it. I want you to know that every day I will strive to be the person you were: loving, caring, selfless, true, kind, joyful, faithful, proud, honest, courageous, happy, funny, brave, and supportive. I know you weren’t perfect because no one is, but you were very close to it. I love you Brittany. I hope you know how much you meant to me then and mean to me still. May we meet again someday.

Love,

Little Nugg.