Ashley's Ashes

 

Yesterday, John Simpson took his daughter Ashley for a walk in the drizzly nasty B.C. weather, and had a long talk with her. 

It's been six long years since the pair were together, working side-by-side, cooking up grub up in Pink Mountain, B.C. Six years since Ashley disappeared after a fight with her boyfriend, Derek Favell, who now resides, rightly so, in a prison of his own making.

Now, they are once again joined at the hip, together again forever, their fate sealed by a moment in time.

The talk was one-sided, of course. Ashley will never again make cupcakes for her nieces or take a dare to toboggan down a steep hillside in a bikini. There will be no more fishing trips, or adventures. No more photos for the selfie queen. 

John is bringing his beloved daughter home in a box. He only has Ashley's Ashes to talk to now, but it gives him comfort. He can feel her spirit emanating from her urn, and take some solace in the fact that she is no longer exposed to the rain and the snow on a hillside where she was discovered by hunters a month ago.

She is here, with her family, which is where she belongs.

"We take turns talking to her, taking her for a walk, offering up some herb for our girl, doing a little shopping for snacks," he says, as he himself is comforted by his daughter Amanda and Ashley's cousin Bobbie Lynn who accompanied the grief stricken father on this terrible journey.

"She had such a huge love for life, and now there's a huge hole in our hearts. There will be way more tears when we get home."

John wants to thank all of Ashley's supporters -- Ashley's Army as he calls them -- for raising money, and bolstering his spirits with posts of support on social media. He'll need their strength as he faces the next big challenge -- looking her killer in the eye, in court, and seeking justice for Ashley. 

He knows the road ahead will be long, and painful. 

But just for today, John's heart is filled, as he takes his walk with Ashley, and does his crying in the rain.

If you have a moment, dear reader, please leave a note at the end of this blog or in the comments on Facebook. How did you know Ashley? What do you remember about her? How has her death changed your life? What can you do change the world to make it safer for the hundreds of women and girls who go missing every year?

RS