Kate Rockwell Instagram – Everyone knows by now that our Mean Girls family was a special one.
Steph and I met there, but our friendship really started to grow on the day this picture was taken in 2020, when she moved into my building, just two flights down from us.
She was so proud to buy her place, all by herself. To say that’s a monster accomplishment is an understatement and she worked her ass off for it. Everyone will tell you what a fearsome dancer she was, and they’re right. But she was fierce offstage too. That girl worked tirelessly to get what she wanted.
When the cancer she’d kicked in 2019 came back, I was one of the few people who got to know, because I was right there. I watched her battle for two years, dancing almost all the way. We would sit outside, masks on, having lunch and she’d talk for hours about why I should change my mind about the new Dr Strange movie, or why Lucille Ball was a literal queen. I would drop puzzles off at her door because she’d done all the ones in her house a dozen times over. She walked our dogs three times a day when Spence and I got covid (you should have seen she and I in triple masks, wearing winter gloves, lysoling the leashes, Steph waiting to catch the dogs as they ran to her halfway down the hallway, to make sure she didn’t catch it 😂). And the entire time she was just so matter-of-fact about being sick. We just kept saying over and over, you did it before, you’ll do it again.
Steph fought so hard, but cancer is a f-ing monster, and it can break even the strongest spirit. She’s not in pain anymore, for which I’m grateful. But also I’m angry that her light was put out far too soon. My heart is broken for her parents, who had to do the unthinkable and say goodbye to their little girl.
I will miss you every day, think of you every time I walk past your door. Don’t worry-it will always be YOUR door. I’m glad we got the short time we had together. I love you baby girl. I hope Darius met you at the gate with a big fat glass of red wine. ❤️ | Posted on 18/Dec/2022 08:11:16
