Micheletti Will Be Remembered Forever
It's Saturday, Nov. 1, and I just came back from the cross country meet at WPI. It's about 4:00 p.m. As soon as I get back in my room, I decide to check my e-mail.
"Michele S. Micheletti '00, a sophomore majoring in Course VI, was hit by a car and died last night while crossing Memorial Drive."
Okay, let me read it again. This must be a mistake. I read it over and over again. I can't believe it at all - this can't be true. I don't want to believe it. I start crying.
I remember meeting Michele for the first time in some fraternity party our freshman year. She saw me walking alone sadly in the middle of the big crowd of people that were dancing and having fun at the party. I'm a very shy person, so I was looking for a pair of friendly eyes to give me some confidence. And then I saw her and she saw me, and with a warm friendly smile, she invited me to join her and her other friends in the dance floor.
As the days passed, we became friends. Though unfortunately the last time I saw her was last Saturday at a party. As always, she was smiling and dancing happily with the rest of her friends. Once again she asked me to join them. And I had a lot of fun with her that night.
Since the moment I found out about Michele's death, I just can't get her face and her genuine friendly smile out of my head. It's as if I still don't realize that she is dead; I don't want to accept it, I can't believe it, and I don't understand. As I walk around campus everyday, I'm going to be hoping to see her again. At the next fraternity party I go to, I'm still going to search for those friendly, warm eyes that comforted me a year ago.
I'm going to miss her happiness, her spontaneity. I'm going to miss seeing her waiting for Saferide every Friday and Saturday night. I can still hear her voice saying, "Hey Patry, what's up, mi amore?" She seemed like a totally happy person, always smiling and laughing.
Michele wasn't very close to me, but I consider her my friend because she changed my life. Sometimes when I was lonely and empty, she touched and filled my heart with her friendly eyes and her genuine smile. I really admire her because she was always herself: natural and sincere, and willing to help anyone voluntarily at all times. Michele will be remembered forever in our hearts because in her special unique way, she changed each of our lives.
Michele's happiness, friendship, and her favorite phrase - "mi amore" - will be present in our hearts and minds forever. Let's just all be happy and smile like Michele taught us to do, always remembering that friends never drift apart, because good friends are forever.
Patricia Diaz '00
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