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Johannesburg - In a different world, Reeva Steenkamp would be celebrating her 32nd birthday with her friends and family today.
Reeva, who was shot and killed by her boyfriend, Oscar Pistorius on 14 February 2013, has certainly not been forgotten though.
Every year since her death, her friends remember her and share intimate moments of their friendship.
Reeva's parents have openly said that while they will never get over their daughter's death, her birthday week is a particularly hard one. They will be going to the beach where they spread Reeva's ashes in her home town of Port Elizabeth.
"There will only be a handful of close friends and family, and they will pay their respects to her and honour her. We will also throw rose petals into the water," said a family lawyer in a statement.
Gina Myers, Reeva's best friend, posted this message on her Instagram account. "My Alfi. Happiest birthday to the angel in the sky. To the girl who made everyone who cried, laugh, and everyone laughing cry. To the wonder women and the beauty you will always be...and to my best friend. I miss you more every day. Love you always."
Reeva stayed with the Myers family in the months leading up to her death.
Another close friend, Darren Fresco, who also testified during the trial, posted this emotional message online.
"Happy birthday you chop. Although many things have happened, some good, some not so good, the one thing that will never change is how much of a void you have left in my life since you were taken away. Your smile, your goofy laugh, your bubbly sparkle that you always had no matter what was going on. Plain and simple, I just miss you being you."
Here are some more messages...
So many scary ironies about this #OP release - Women's month, Reeva's bday tomorrow & the release on Friday. Reeva's poor family ?? ??
— Poppy Ntshongwana (@PoppyIsMyName) August 18, 2015
