Words can truly not describe the intense sadness and emptiness I feel without you Branden. I still remember the day that mom sat Danielle and I down and told us she was pregnant, and I was DEVASTATED! I was the baby of the family, I hadn't had a little brother or sister before, and at 8 years old, I didn't think I wanted one. Little did I know how much you would transform my life. From the minute you were born I was completely enamored with you. I would rock you, sing to you, feed you and even change your diapers. Your first years were the time I remember our family being the closest, everyone just wanted to be with you, you brought a new joy to our family and for that I will be forever grateful. Then as the years passed, and we all grew up and started going different directions, the love and closeness I felt for you never changed, even though I didn't live at home anymore. I wanted so so much to be able to be there for you, to guide you the way Danielle did me, but life does not always work out the way we plan. I always had big hopes for you, dreams of our family's future all together, and now I have to change that plan. Now we have to learn to live without you here, and it just really really sucks without you. You really were one of the sweetest and kind hearted people I knew. You were never “to cool” to give me a hug or tell me you loved me, even when you were in your teenage phase or around your friends, you certainly loved unconditionally, and you wore your heart on your sleeve most of the time. We all make mistakes, and even when you made yours, I know how much it affected you, how much it hurt you to think that you hurt others or disappointed others, especially your family. I can tell you Branden Wyatt that so many people loved and cared about you and the only disappointment is that you are no longer here with us. It is far too overwhelming to think about the rest of my life without you in it. Not to see those big blue eyes, or hear your voice is something I am still struggling to come to terms with. So I am taking it one day at a time, sometimes just one hour at a time. I miss you so much already. I am very grateful for the time we had together, especially the phone calls and letters over the last few months. And I am grateful for some of the small lessons you taught me. Not to be quite as selfish, especially as an 8 year old little girl with a new baby in the house, how to open my heart and let people in, and most recently how to be ok with feeling my feelings and ask for help or for space when I need it. While I don't want to say goodbye to you, I hope that one day I feel peace that you are forever safe now. 20 years is just not long enough to have you as my little brother, and while you may not be with me anymore, I will always always be your big sister, and I will always always love you more than you will ever know. RIP Branden Wyatt, my little baby brother, I miss you every day.
Alicia Pyatt