Darija Franjic
I remember the year two sets of dudes from opposite sides of North Carolina moved into Sara and I’s building. Next door we had 3 guys from the coast and across the hall we had 3 guys from the mountains of Avery county move in. From the start, they clashed like it was a standoff, constantly butting heads with one another. Occasionally they managed to get along long enough to make lasting memories for all of us to laughingly look back on and we grew to love them all. There was one guy in particular who Sara became very fond of, and it was one of them Avery boys named Kyle.
I didn’t know Kyle nearly as well as I knew Sara, but I very quickly realized that there was something about him that made it impossible not to love him. You see, Kyle had this unique combination of southern charm and wittiness that drew you in and made you feel right at home. He was quick to whip up a joke and literally could make anyone and everyone laugh. Like Sara, Kyle had a unique high pitch laugh that was infectious and when the two of them got to giggling together you couldn’t help but to join in. I think his great sense of humor is what won Sara over from the very beginning.
Outside of their remarkable laughs, Kyle and Sara had a whole lot of things in common. Both of them were not so secret nerds. Kyle loved to read, which for some reason surprised me but also inspired me to read more. Both of them were uniquely stylish. I noticed that Kyle would always match his hats to his shoes/outfits and will never forget seeing his large collection of hats for the first time. I was mind blown! Kyle was always down for a good time, making him an incredible adventure buddy for Sara. Kyle too was a “doer”, that sometimes needed a little motivation to get going (like when the two of them started up Keg Clothing) and luckily Sara was the ultimate motivator (speaking from experience). I always thought it was extremely precious how both their commonalities and differences went hand-in-hand, almost effortlessly complimenting one another.
One of my personal favorite things about Kyle is that he had a little bit of a ghetto side to him. I remember hearing some of his music and thinking “no way this super country guy listens to this!” Soon after, I started calling him my twin, not because we looked alike, but more so because we were so similar (except that Kyle was wayyy more chill than I will ever be). His unique personality and inclusiveness helped make me feel like I could fit in with the country folks, sparking my curiosity and fondness for the culture. Kyle gave off a sense of comfort that almost instantly made you feel like you belonged, like you were family. He was also the final push that got me into listening to country music which slightly irked Sara and a couple of my other friends who had been trying to get me into country music for quite a while. Naturally, it became a thing that we joked about and drove Sara crazy with (in a non-malicious playful way). Sometimes I wonder how she was able to put up with the two of us...but we loved her for it and there was literally never a dull moment when the three of us were together!
Post college, I didn’t get to spend quite as much time with Kyle and Sara, but I always loved catching up with the two of them and seeing how they had grown together and how their love had blossomed. Plus talking smack with Kyle was one of my fave things of all times!
Kyle taught me the phrase (or at least was the one who made it stick in my brain) “They’re/she’s/he’s good people.” because he was constantly saying it. So to quote him, “Sara and Kyle’s good people”—they were the best kind of people! I have really struggled to accept that I will never yell out “Kaaaaaale” in my terrible country accent as I’m greeting him or get to see their sweet, smiling faces again. I cannot imagine the full impact of their absence or what both of their families are going through. My heart breaks for adorable little Tucker who was robbed of two of the most incredible parents in this world. Fortunately, he is in great hands receiving the most love and best care from the families that raised his wonderful parents, and will be able to revisit memories captured in all the pictures and videos that Sara (and Kasey) inevitably snapped, infinitely reminding him just how much Kyle and Sara loved him! I consider myself lucky to have gotten to be a part of their journey and am forever thankful for their friendships! May their light continue to shine through all the lives they have touched ❤️