I would like to begin my introducing you to Aarika or "AJ" Schlinkman.
I only knew "AJ" for a short amount of time. We hungout over the summer prior to her passing. She soon became an important part of my life, and I realized that she was also related to my neighbor.
She was the perfect girl that I ever had the chance to come into contact with. She looked just like a Barbie doll- all the time! Blonde hair, blue eyes, always had makeup on. Summer of 2017, we hungout with another friend of ours and it was rare that we were seen separate from one another. If all three of us weren't together, at least two of us were.
I came home for Labor day, and was trying to hangout with "AJ" and our other friend. They had told me that they were taking Aarika's new jeep for a spin and I was going to go along. Not too long after I mentioned meeting up, I received a snapchat that my two friends were on their way into the Emergency Room. I am not a fan of driving through Lancaster City, yet something in my heart told me that I needed to go. When I arrived, I found our friend on a bed in the hallway with only minor injuries. However, I did not see Aarika. That's when I was notified that the jeep had rolled on top of her and she had sustained multiple injuries. I sat at the hospital for what seemed like such a short amount of time, waiting for some type of word that she was okay. I ended up going home that evening and keeping up with her mom on facebook for updates. I received a text late in the evening on September 15, 2016. Stating that we weren't sure if she would make it through the night. At this point, she was on dialysis. The decision was made to take her off. Aarika passed away shortly after, on September 16, 2016.
Although I did not interact with Aarika for a long amount of time, the times that I did spend with her will always hold a special place in my heart. She impacted my life in such an exponential way.
