emmelinemay | S.O.P.H.I.E

Clips from the memorial for Sophie Lancaster from Saturday.

There's some photos here (I didn't even see the camera - I was a bit shocked to see my face there) and an article.

It was really emotional, particularly Sylvia Lancaster's speech. I think the family have been amazed at the support of the goth scene as a whole - so many people have been saying they feel the way I've been feeling - I didn't know her, but have still been affected deeply by her death, far more so than I expected. I feel like what happened to her could have happened to so many of us; I've been attacked for being different, and I know so many others who have as well, some viciously, others who had lucky escapes.

I only hope that crimes like this are taken more seriously, and seen as the hate crimes they are. Ok, so we may CHOOSE to be different, but why should we have to hide what we've chosen to look like for fear of ignorant people who might wish us harm? A hate crime is a hate crime.

I had an amazing weekend, with friends and loved ones. I lived, and laughed, and danced and shared experiences, and had such a wonderful time. Life is so fleeting, so precious, so important, and you never know when you might lose it, whether through illness or accident or mindless hatred.

I need to remember this:
Live every moment you have. Don't waste it. Be the best person you can be, don't let yourself be eaten up with hatred, or jealousy, or intolerance, or fear, or worry about all the little things that seem to important - they really aren't. Love and dance and take all the joy you can in every moment you can squeeze out of however long you have left. Because we owe it to ourselves to do all we can with our lives, and we owe it to those who've lost theirs not to waste it.