On the first anniversary of Marin’s passing, we asked everyone who ever had any opportunity to meet Marin to share their stories with us. Thank you, Daley, for being the first to share your Story with us and allowing us to share it with others.

How did you know Marin: She was one of my best friends

There are so many stories I could tell about Marin and all of the times that she helped me smile and see the good in the world. I was fortunate enough to have known her for about 6 years, since we met at CrossFit when we were both in 6th grade. In those 6 years, we always managed to have a good time. Whether it was binge watching shows over spring break, chatting in the middle of a workout, or going to Chicago, I always enjoyed any time that I spent with her.
One of my favorite memories is when Marin, her mom, and I went down to Chicago to visit the Field Museum and Chinatown. Marin loved the Field Museum so much that even though it wasn’t my favorite place to go, I always enjoyed it just because of how excited Marin was. We went there first, but we had to walk a while, and it was raining so everyone was cold and wet. Nobody complained though because we ended up having a lot of fun walking in the rain. We took pictures with Sue and looked at different artifacts from ancient Egypt. It was so much fun. Afterwards, we went to Chinatown to eat. I remember going into a little bakery that Marin claimed made the best bread. Her mom told her to order in mandarin, but she didn’t want to. She was so nervous and argued against it for a while, but eventually she did it and she did incredible! I remember feeling so proud of her in that moment, and so excited that she was able order in mandarin, despite being so nervous. I don’t know why, but that moment really stuck with me, and that bakery always reminds me of her.
Another one of my favorite memories was when Marin, me, and our friend Gracie hung out in Crystal Lake. The three of us met through CrossFit, and we all got very close very fast. We spent the day in Crystal Lake eating pizza, going to a candy store and buying way too much sugar, and hanging out at the lake. We took one of the paddle boats out on the lake and blasted music from the little speaker we had. Afterwards, it was late and we were playing MarioKart in Gracie’s basement until Marin and I had to leave. Although Gracie, Marin, and I spent a lot of time together and did so many interesting things, that day was one of my favorites.
The most meaningful memory I have of Marin that will stay with me forever is one of the last times I went over to her house. It was a few months before the Lacson’s moved out of their house in Tower Lakes to be in the center of town. It was a school night and I had been out with my mom, but it had been a really hard day and both of us were so emotionally drained. My parents had been going through a divorce at the time and nobody really knew about it except for a few really close friends. I had wanted to just get away from everything, and I didn’t know who to reach out to because nobody really knew of the situation. Marin knew though, so she was the first person I reached out to, asking if I could come over for a little while. She responded almost immediately, inviting me in without question. I spent the rest of the night with her and her family, despite having to get up early the next morning for school. I had even gotten some homework done that night, which I hadn’t been able to do in my own home for a while. It was the escape that I had needed so badly, and Marin never hesitated to help me out. She was one of the only ones that was actually there for me during such a difficult time, and I will forever be grateful to her and her family for that. Just that one night meant so much to me, not only because I felt uplifted during a heavy time, but also because it showed me how to be better friend.
Marin has taught me so much over the years, and she still continues to teach me so much, even though she isn’t here anymore. My most precious memories and happiest moments have been with her because she is by far the nicest, most genuine person I have ever come across in my entire life. I wish everyday that I could continue to make more memories with her, but I am so incredibly grateful to have the memories that I do have, and I am so thankful that I was one of the lucky ones that got to know Marin as well as I did. I love you Marin, you were the most amazing friend I ever could have asked for.