The second half of the year was just as wild as the first — fireworks, new friends, heartbreaks, birthdays and finally some peace. Let’s dive in:
🎇 July – Fireworks & Clue Champion
Fourth of July at Izzy’s was pure magic — fireworks lighting up the sky, laughter everywhere, and the board game Clue making its grand debut. (Yes, I kicked Izzy’s butt at it. Don’t tell her I said that.)
We added a new friend to the crew: Kat! They’re hilarious, fun to talk to, and our Roblox sessions are legendary. Meanwhile, I left a relationship — he was a walking red flag, but I guess I inherited my dad’s colorblindness.
Of course, the drama with Sarah, Cam, and Emily kept brewing. Emily was posting photos with them while they swore they weren’t talking. Cam even threatened a “family meeting” if I sent one more “nasty” text. Okay, 5’7, calm down.
📱 August – iPad Era
August was all about my new iPad (shoutout to Afterpay). It quickly became my pride, joy, and maybe my entire personality.
I got uninvited to my niece’s first birthday — Emily went instead — so Izzy and I made our own fun at MOSI. I hadn’t been there since I was a kid, and it was such a blast. Oh, and Life of a Showgirl was announced, which felt like the universe throwing me a little sparkle.
🖤 September – Loss & Reflection
September was bittersweet. I hit 300 days on Finch (my favorite app ever!) and had more cozy weekends with Izzy. But then came heartbreak: my dog Trisha passed away in her sleep. She was 13–14 and had been sick, but it was still sudden and devastating.
Not long after, my tia Veilta died. She was my aunt’s aunt, but we called her tia, and I was named after her. Losing her felt like losing more of my abuela too — another piece of her gone — and that hit hard. I turned to writing even more to process the grief and keep myself grounded.
Meanwhile, Emily started drinking a lot, adding more chaos to the mix.
🎃 October – Birthday & Pumpkins
I turned 28! Honestly, I never thought I’d make it past 18, but here I am. Izzy and I carved pumpkins (she’s better at it, but don’t tell her), and I got Kat the American Girl doll they’ve always wanted.
I also made Izzy a boo basket and got her a flag of the guy she likes to watch — because I’m the best gift-giver. Sarah texted me “Happy Birthday,” and I hit her back with a simple “Umm okay.” Because… what the fuck.
Izzy, on the other hand, made me the sweetest basket filled with all the little things I love — even nose spray. And the best gift of all? Dad told me Emily was moving out. She tried to keep it a secret, but the next day she packed her stuff and left. 🎉
🦃 November – Breathing Again
November was the first month without Emily, and wow… the air felt lighter. I still had PTSD moments where I thought she was around, but slowly, I started to breathe again.
Sarah and Cam kept pretending they weren’t involved, but their actions said otherwise. Izzy and I even got a text from them that made it crystal clear: they always chose Emily over me. And that’s fine. I can grieve the loss of Sarah as a sister and move forward. Also it was my best friends birthday! Hes old!
Thanksgiving with Izzy was amazing — we made our own traditions, laughed endlessly, and discovered our shared love for Bealls Outlet. We also played Monopoly for five hours straight… never again.
🎄 December – Closing the Year
As of writing this, it’s only December 3rd, but this month already feels heavy. It marks 10 years since my mom passed, which is surreal. It’s also my first Christmas after losing so much family.
But here’s the thing: I still have Izzy, Kat, and my friends. They make the bad feel better, and together we’re finding joy in the little things. Here’s to 2026 — may it be kinder, brighter, and full of the love we choose.
update! Its now the day after Christmas and it was fine. I did see sarah and emily. Ill write about that soon. Nothing really bad happened but also I feel a lot of diffent emotions so theres that. Also none of my gifts for izzy came in time so that made me want to die! But izzy got me a cool bobs burger cup which I love!! its my fav and a few other things which I will show in a christmad recap post.
🌟 Final Takeaway
2025 was messy, magical, heartbreaking, and healing. I lost people, gained people, and learned to stand taller in my truth. The year reminded me that family isn’t always blood — sometimes it’s the friends who show up with board games, boo baskets, and five-hour Monopoly marathons.
Here’s to sparklers, milkshakes, and the strength to keep moving forward! ❤️
Leave a Reply