Heather Morris has recalled her final interaction with Naya Rivera, as she paid tribute to the late actress in a heartbreaking Instagram post.
The 33-year-old’s body was recovered from Lake Piru in Southern California on Monday, five days after she was declared missing.
Taking to Instagram, Heather, who played Naya’s love interest on Glee, posted a series of photos of their children – and shared an insight into their friendship.
She wrote: “We started out as the closest friends and then like all new things, we went through a bit of a rocky phase. However, we stuck by each other’s side and created the most beautiful friendship built out of love and understanding.”
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“The last I had the chance to see you in person, I had left oranges outside our home for you to take. I wanted to say hi through the window but my phone didn’t ring when you called (which it never does, f*cking T-Mobile), so instead you and Josey left two succulents on our doorstep as a thank you.”
“I planted those succulents and I look at them everyday and think of you. I still listen to your EP on repeat because from the moment I heard it, it struck me and I always wished the world knew more of your voice,” she continued.
“You sent me over 5 dozen SnapChat videos when you and Josey woke up in the morning and I kick myself that I didn’t save one of them. You always shared recipes and I admired your love for food. We vowed to spend every Easter together, even though Covid stole this last one from us.”
“You are and always will be the strongest and most resilient human being I know, and I vowed to carry that with me as I continue to live my life.”
The 33-year-old explained that she had learned so much from Naya over the years.
“You constantly taught me lessons about grief, about beauty and poise, about being strong, resilient and about not giving a f**k (but still somehow respectful ). Yet, the utmost important lesson I learned most of all from you was being a consistent and loving friend,” she wrote.
“You were the first to check in, the first to ask questions, the first to listen.. you cherished our friendship and I never took that for granted.”
Heather admitted that her close bond with Naya was evident by the amount of time they spent together with their sons.
“We never took photos together because we mutually hated taking pictures…our relationship meant more than proof,” she wrote.
“I have countless pictures of our babies playing, because we shared that kind of pride and joy. So I’m showing the world a photo of our little goof balls for you, because I know that meant more than anything and they remind me of you and I.”
“I speak to you everyday because I know you’re still with me and even though I’m feeling greedy that we don’t get more time together, I cherish every moment we had and hold it close to my heart,” she added.
Naya and Heather played high school cheerleaders turned love interests, Santana and Brittany, in the Fox series – which ran from 2009 to 2015.
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