Erika Kirk has shared advice given to her by Second Lady Usha Vance in the days after the assassination of her husband, conservative activist Charlie Kirk, in a New York Times opinion piece published ahead of the anniversary of his death. Kirk, 31, was shot dead while addressing a crowd at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, last September, leaving behind his wife and two young children. The essay offers a rare personal reflection on grief from someone thrust into the public eye by a high-profile political killing, coming as the case against the man accused of the murder continues through the courts.

In the piece, Erika recalled telling Vance she did not know how she would cope, to which the second lady replied with an analogy about a turbulent flight landing safely in 15 minutes, urging her simply to "get through the next 15 minutes." Erika described those words as "seared" into her heart and returned to them throughout the essay while recounting difficult milestones without Charlie, including his 32nd birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, their wedding anniversary and their children's birthdays. She said grief remains ever-present but so does "the beautiful gift of life." Separately, prosecutors said last week they have a "mountain of evidence" against Tyler Robinson, 23, who has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder and could face the death penalty if convicted.