I barely knew Amelia Perry, but ze was brilliant, and ze was kind, and those have been the first two adjectives off the tongue of almost everyone who spent time with hir. Ze was a mathematician, an activist, a friend, a lover, and to so many in my community, she was *family*. And ze was in so much pain for so long, and now ze's gone much too soon.

So we hold each other a little closer to see each other through the night. We bring hugs and hot food inward and find open arms when we share our grief outward. We listen as those closest to Amelia trade photos and favorite memories and try to imagine hir at peace. We continue hir wake over days and continents. Eventually we run out of words and do our best to just be *present* together in our pain, as an extended chosen family.