Daughter Of Teacher Who Died Protecting Kids In Texas Shooting Writes Tribute To Mom | "My Heart Will Forever Be Broken"

Trigger warning: This story contains themes of gun violence that some readers may find distressing

The daughter of a teacher killed at the Texas school shooting has written a heartbreaking tribute to her mother.

"Mom, you are a hero," wrote Adalynn Ruiz in a letter shared on Twitter. "I keep telling myself that this isn't real. I just want to hear your voice." Ruiz's mom, Eva Mireles was a fourth-grade teacher at Robb Elementary School and one of the two teachers who died trying to protect their students from the 18-year-old gunman that claimed the lives of 19 children as well. Irma Garcia was the other teacher who was killed. Mireles has been with the school district for 17 years, said Lydia Martinez Delgado, her aunt. "I have no words to describe how I feel right now, tomorrow, and for the rest of my life," she wrote, reported ABC News.

"I keep telling myself that this isn't real. I just want to hear your voice," she wrote. "I want to hear you talking to our dogs with that silly voice you make so high that wakes everyone up in the morning. I want to hear you say "Nanis wake up already man!" Because I keep snoozing my alarm. I want to hug you one last time and I want to feel the calluses on your hands because you were not only a teacher during the day but the most hardworking cross-fitter in the afternoon," she added.

Ruiz then went on to explain how she was ever-present and loving in her daily routine. "I want to be able to get out of work and expect your call at 4:30 every day because that's the first thing you would do as soon as you got out," she wrote. "I want to annoy you and wake you up from naps just so you can check on my chicken and make sure I didn't undercook it. I want to sing karaoke with you and hear you sing "Shine bright like diamond!" In your loudest voice. I want to fight with you for the stupidest things and then laugh with you after."

"I want everything back. I want you to come back to me mom. I miss you more than words can explain. My beautiful mom, thank you for the funniest memories. Thank you for the best times of my life. Thank you for being my best friend. Thank you for being the best mom anyone could ask for," she wrote. Ruiz then said she was lost without her Mom. "I don't know how to do this life without you, but I will take care of dad," she wrote. "I will take care of our dogs and I will forever say your name so you are always remembered, Eva Mireles, 4th-grade teacher at Robb Elementary who selflessly jumped in front of her students to save their lives."

"My heart will forever be broken. My best friend, my twin was taken from me. Thank you for loving me in the best ways and for raising me to become so strong. I will miss your laugh forever. I want to thank you mom, for being such an inspiration to me. I will forever be so proud to be your daughter. My sweet mommy, I will see you again," she concluded.

References:
https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Family/daughter-posts-tribute-mom-teacher-died-texas-school/story?id=84998776
https://twitter.com/addy_celeste/status/1529456856107782144

Cover Image Source: Twitter/@addy_celeste

The school shooting at Uvalde, Texas, is a developing story, and we’ll update as we learn more. Information is swiftly changing and Women Working is committed to providing the most recent and verified updates in our articles and reportage. However, considering the frequency in developments, some of the information/data in this article may have changed since the time of publication.

If you're struggling to cope with grief, and need help, please reach out to Crisis response at 1-800-203-CARE (2273)