Annabell Rodriguez and Xavier Lopez, both 10, died during the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde on May 24. Best friends, they would text each other sweet messages at night. Now, their families have decided they will be buried next to each other, a gesture that is both beautiful and heartbreaking.
Annabell’s mom, Monica Gallegos, told ABC News, that her daughter developed a crush on Xavier, coming home on the first day of fourth grade saying she met a boy who smelled and dressed “really nice.” Shortly after, they started passing notes in class. Xavier bought her a necklace with his picture inside that she would wear to his little league games. They became so close this past year that they started texting each other “I love you” before bedtime.
https://twitter.com/B52Malmet/status/1534603492169498630?s=20&t=TdRRTFnGkRjN4–cOzOc8w
Now, they will be buried side-by-side at Hillcrest Cemetery in Uvalde, Texas, after a week of funerals for the 19 students and two teachers killed in this senseless shooting, one of over 250 in 2022 alone in the US.
“She had a big old crush on him,” Gallegos said. She said that she and Xavier’s mother, Felicha Martinez, laughed about their school crush. “Me and Felicha would laugh, like, ‘How do y’all know about love?'”
Amazingly enough, the smitten pair had a history neither of them realized. According to their mothers, they had played together as toddlers when Annabell visited her grandmother and great-grandfather at a trailer park where Xavier used to live.
Later, the families became friends and spent time together having barbecues and watching their kids play tag. “He would make things for her; he would write notes for her,” said their teacher, Arnulfo Reyes. “It brings a smile to your face just to think they really loved each other.”
Two Uvalde classmates, Annabell Rodriguez and Xavier Lopez, had a special relationship. Their mothers both noticed they would text “I love you” to each other before going to bed each night. Their families have decided to bury them next to each other. pic.twitter.com/eHWYDJqrnB
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) June 9, 2022
Their last picture together was on the morning of the shooting in the school cafeteria where they were both named to the honor roll, Xavier’s first time.
Annabell and Xavier’s funerals were both this week. Her family wrote in her obituary that she was a “sweet young girl” who loved the color blue. Xavier was an “active young boy who enjoyed playing baseball,” his obituary read. He also loved dancing with his mom.
Read this and your heart will hurt for the families of these two children. Annabell and Xavier had a special bond; they died together in their fourth grade classroom. If we move on from this tragedy without doing anything, what does it say about us? https://t.co/w92jpW4ON2
— Victor J. Rojas (@victorjrojas) June 9, 2022
Now, the two friends will remain together forever.
For those looking to donate to these and other families impacted by the tragedy, please visit GoFundMe, where you can view an online hub of verified fundraisers.
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