01/19/2026
I’ve been in a dark place for a while now, starting with my best friend passing away in the spring of last year. Khloe was just shy of her 13th birthday, and it still hasn’t fully hit me that she’s gone. I keep thinking I’m going to walk into my house and she’ll be there waiting for me, wagging her tail. I didn’t really give myself time to grieve before getting a new puppy. Don’t get me wrong, I love Oliver, and navigating puppyhood has been fun (though exhausting), but there will never be another Khloe. She was my everything; the way she would look at me and smile, even with all her health problems, was true love.
To add to that, my store is closing on March 1st. Ever since managing the school store in high school, this is all I’ve ever wanted to do. Sadly, my dream is coming to an end. Much like losing Khloe, the reality hasn’t hit me yet, and I’m not sure what I’ll do once it’s officially over. Owning this store made me realize I was finally good at something. I loved going to Chicago to pick out clothing; it helped me realize I have a real eye for curation. Bringing those pieces back and having customers say, “I’ve never seen clothing like this,” or “I feel so confident in this,” made it all worth it.
Through this shop, I met people who truly understand what it’s like to be an owner. They’ve become some of my best friends on earth—people I can vent to and share the ins and outs of small business life with. Also met some amazing customers who are now more than customers they have become friends. Being in this dark place has led to some bad habits, like weight gain and constant sadness. I’m hoping I can get back to being myself soon, though this Michigan weather isn’t helping!
It’s a lot of ‘goodbyes’ all at once. I’m just holding onto the memories of Khloe and the pride I feel for my shop until the sun starts coming out again.