Stella

is dead. We got a call this afternoon, saying "Are you friends of Stella MacKenzie?" and naturally we said yes, and it turns out to be the police saying she was found dead in her apartment by her neighbour this morning. Oh god, I just...I can't process it. Sparky, sassy, belligerent Stella. Our friend. Dead.

It's like the stars have gone out or something. Something that's always there, even if you don't notice it, and now it's gone and all you can see and feel is it's absence.

And there's one thing that bothers me. The police called us because they couldn't track down any of Stella's relatives. They couldn't find any dental or hospital records for her either. It's as if she never existed.

We're going to the funeral tomorrow. Apart from one of her room-mates when she was up in Auckland, Harry, we're the only people attending.

How could this happen? How could she have so few friends, no family, barely any trace of her existence beyond a few scraps of paper and our memories?

I can't even cry anymore. There's no tears left. It isn't enough.

Stella, I hope there's a heaven, because you deserve a place in it.

--Vivi.