BANGOR (NEWS CENTER Maine) -- Eleven-year-old Emmaline described her classmate Marissa Kennedy as "a very special girl," and that the 10-year-old had a "really good laugh and smile" that made everybody happy.
The two girls became close during their time together in fourth grade at Fairmount School in Bangor. "We were all like best friends, her smile and her laugh lit up our day," Emmaline said. "I remember that she was nice to everybody, loving sweet and was never rude to anybody."
However, Emmaline also remembered that Marissa would often miss one or two days of school every week and that she would frequently take naps during class.
"She wouldn't be able to stay awake in class and she had to take naps throughout the day," Emmaline said.
Looking back, she says she wishes Marissa had told at least one person in their group of friends that something was wrong at home. "I would have reached out to an adult," Emmaline said. "But she was probably too scared to say anything."
Emmaline and other students at the Bangor elementary school were connected with grief counselors Friday during the school day. The students drew pictures in honor of their friend and even took turns ripping paper.
"We were mad at the parents, that they would do that to them," Emmaline said. "So we just ripped a lot of paper to take out frustration."
Overall, Emmaline said she and her friends are doing fine and that they are all supporting each other when they feel sad. She's asking anyone who reads about her friend's death to say a prayer for her.
"I want people to pray for her and know that that kind of stuff is not OK," Emmaline said.