The families of the Robb Elementary School shooting victims in Uvalde, Texas, are keeping their memories alive by sharing stories about the lives they led before they were tragically killed.
Two of those families are linked in their children's stories. Monica Gallegos is the mother of Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez. She recently told Good Morning America about how so much of Annabell's year had been spent with her good friend and crush, Xavier James Lopez.
Monica and Xavier's mom, Felicha Martinez, often joked about their kids' close bond. Never did they imagine the two 10-year-olds would be comforting each other during their final minutes on Earth before their lives were taken in their fourth grade classroom.
Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez came home from her first day of fourth grade with glowingly nice things to say about one of her classmates, Xavier James Lopez. Annabell's mom, Monica Gallegos, remembers Annabell admiring how Xavier dressed and smelled. Weeks later, she learned the two were passing notes.
By the time winter was through, Annabell's and Xavier's families were getting together for barbecues. Monica Gallegos and Xavier's mom, Felicha Martinez, talked about the special bond between their kids. They remember being amused when they learned the two were texting each other "I love you" every night before bed.
"Me and Felicha would laugh, like, 'How do y'all know about love?'" Monica recalled.
Felicha gifted Annabell a picture of Xavier on a chain. Annabell would wear it to his Little League games and keep it in her backpack at all other times.
Monica and Felicha made sure to get a photo of the two together on the morning of May 24 in the school cafeteria, where both got awards for their accomplishments that year. Xavier had made honor roll for the very first time. Annabell made honor roll, too, and also received a music certificate.
That photo was taken just an hour before a gunman entered Annabell and Xavier's fourth grade classroom. In total, 19 students and two teachers were killed in the horrific action of that day. Annabell and Xavier were in the classroom where all 11 children there at the time were killed.
It is a heartbreaking end to a friendship that seemed destined. The children's mothers didn't recall that the two had known each other from a young age. Annabell's grandfather and great-grandmother had lived at a trailer park in Uvalde when she was a toddler. Xavier's family lived there at the time, and when Annabell visited, the two often played outside together.
Xavier's grandmother remembers him as a charismatic little boy. He'd learned to make his dad's salsas when he was just 7 and would sell his creations to neighbors and friends. Then he'd use the money to buy his younger brothers toys at the local Dollar General. He also loved to dance cumbia with his grandmother.
Annabell also shared a close relationship with her own grandma, Lucy Gallegos. She'd braid her hair and do her nails after school. In the summers, the whole family would drive to the banks of the Nueces and Frio rivers and sell hot dogs. Annabell was happy to help, running the snow cone machine.
Annabell and Xavier's teacher, Arnulfo Reyes, was shot but survived. He's recently spoken out about how haunting it was to lose all 11 children who were in the room with him that day. He knew about Annabell and Xavier's special bond, and it is one of the many details that breaks his heart about that day.
"He would make things for her, he would write notes for her," Arnulfo recalled.
"It brings a smile to your face just to think they really loved each other."
Xavier was buried at Hillcrest Cemetery in Uvalde on June 7. Annabell's funeral is to be held on June 8, just four days after her cousin, best friend, and fellow victim Jacklyn Cazares was buried. The families decided to bury the two little ones next to each other. It is pure heartbreak for everyone involved, wondering what could have come from all these bright young lives.
