I first want to praise all those writers and admin staff on BCTS for the excellent content which appears here. For myself, I knew nothing of this site until my friend Mellissa (prairie_girl_64) passed away. I was entrusted with looking after her estate and all her subsequent stories upon which she started and have yet to be completed and/or are completed and need editing.

I guess I would have to start at the beginning for everyone to understand my friendship with Mellissa. I had met her while she had returned from her journey on the streets. I being several years older and a aquaintance of Jenn's, we never had alot in common however there was a connection. She was older in experience and maturity from someone so young. Myself, being 20 and in University, I never imagined that years later I would have the honour of looking after someones memories. Mellissa and I communicated frequently over the years , however that dwindled to a few times a year. I retruned durring her trial of Jason whom, had placed her near death. Her strength and determination for survival drove her onwards. I could not even imagine nor fathom this frail individual whom jsut about died at the hands of a maniac could have such courage and strength. I did not know much of her life prior to meeting her and then durring the trial and some visits she disclosed the horrors of her existance in a situation of no love.

For myself, time passed on til I recieved a phone call from the local police detachment here in my home town about a death. I was stunned and a bit panic stricken. My first thoughts were of my husband or my mom and or dad or his parents. I was asked to pop on to the detachment headquarters and talk with a few people. I complied so shaking. When I arrived I was asked a series of questions. One was did I know a person by the Name of Mellissa Northe. I answered yes. there were several more questions. I was shocked that she would remember me and also named me as the contact person. I immediately contacted the hospital where she was and needed to know what I needed to do as this was a first for me. I immediately took some vacation time off from my job to make the necessary arrangeemnts etc. That evening I told my husband, needless to say he went ballistic over this and alot of nasty words were said. I boarded a plane and headed west. Upon arrival I arranged the necessary arrangements.

Soon after, I bega to discover a whole new genre of wrting and authors whom stories touched me in ways I could not describe fully, I read Mellissa's story ( all chapters) and cried. I read the comments etc and was amazed at all the support she recvieved on her writing considering she was disabled due to several disabilities and ailments, she never gave up. Her story touched me as I am sure it has touched alot more whom have read the story. I began reading Her journal and her kind words she had for the writers and admin staff on this site. I began to go through her laptop and found stories completed and those that she started and made alot of notes on. I began to correspond with Stanman on here and the correspondence grew to where Mellissa has completed a few stories and needed editing, Stan volunteered to edit those that were completed. This is a long drawn out process for me as I am not a editor.

Her first story scince her passing is called "FAITHFULLY YOURS", She wrote this in hospital and touched me emotionally. Her favorite band is Journey and well those that know music will recognize the song. This story will be posted on Sunday October 12th as it is Thanksgiving here in Canada. I owe a debt of thanks and praise to all those here at BCTS and especially Stan whom his tireless effort to edit this story and make this come alive. There are a few more to post as there are at least 7 so far that I have located, some complete and some partially started and lots of notes etc, I am amazed at her writing ability even though she was in so much agony. I owe a huge thanks and appreciation to Mellissa for entrusting me with this responsibility. Thanks my wonderful friend. I do miss you. Thanks for gracing us with your strength as well with your determination. A child of GOD and now a forever Angel.

Please enjoy the gifts she continues with long after her absence from here. I appreciate any feedback and those interested in assisting with those stories that are complete and need editing. Mellissa apreciated all those writers on here for there abilities and praised them all. Her legacy is with her stories.

Melanie Dixon