Saying this is unfathomably difficult for me, but it needs to be said: Yesterday, my girlfriend of two and a half years, Madison Meinbresse, took her own life. Hearing news like this is understandably troubling, but if I knew anything about her it is that she would want us to be candid and to be honest about what happened. Madison struggled with her mental health a great deal during our two and a half year relationship, and this struggle has ultimately claimed the life of the woman I love.

In all honesty, we had been having some fairly serious troubles with our relationship, but I never expected something so heartbreaking as this- one thing Madison and I were always very good at was communication. If one of us hurt the other in any way, we would talk through the problem and resolve it. For the last two to three months, though, that hasn't been the case. She was growing more distant, and that distance was intensified by the fact that both of us were getting busier and busier. Our typically rock-solid line of communication began to close, which exacerbated existing issues within the relationship and pushed it to its breaking point.

Madison was the single most generous, caring person I have ever met. I've never met someone so empathetic and so immediately willing to help anyone, regardless of the possible cost to her. She was kind, funny, loving, and not a single day will go by without me remembering the wonderful times we had together. The way Madison saw the world and especially those less fortunate than herself is something I will always be in awe of. Any one of us would be blessed to have one tenth of her ability to care for others; and the world would be a better place if we did.

Madison dedicated her entire life to helping others, and thought that the best way to do so was to be open, honest, and understanding of our differences. If there is any single thing we should take away from what has happened, it is that communication with your loved ones is absolutely vital, and often life saving. Talk to your families, friends, partners, whoever- communicate to them. If you are hurt, ill (mentally or otherwise), or simply unhappy, I urge you, please talk to someone you love.