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Following Hayden Panettiere\u2019s untimely passing at the age of 36, Bethany Joy Lenz is commemorating her.<\/strong><\/p>\n The One Tree Hill<\/em> actress paid a heartfelt homage to the late Hayden on her Instagram account on Monday.<\/p>\n Bethany opened the long note, saying, \u201cThere is nothing that posting pictures on the internet can do. I avoid it usually in moments like this. But I\u2019m here with my head in my hands and I don\u2019t know what else to do aside from praying for her soul, which I have done and will continue.\u201d<\/p>\n She went on to write, \u201cI\u2019m crushed. I knew the wild little blonde. Was she nine? Ten? I was eighteen. She ran through the Screen Gems studio hallways at 222 E44th St., laughing and playing games in between blocking and camera rehearsals. Long, unruly curls trailing behind her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe knew her lines and everyone else\u2019s. Her intelligence was astonishing. She understood scenes and nuance and human struggle like no child I\u2019d ever seen on camera,\u201d Bethany added, continuing, \u201cAnd she\u2019d sit with you for a great conversation, then giggle and go play. We\u2019d connect on and off over the years, like the cousin at the family reunion who got famous and life moved her away \u2014 but I always felt such joy seeing her when we were lucky enough to cross paths. We\u2019d make a pact to talk soon. Lunch. Dinner. Somewhere we could curl up into a corner \u2014 but we never quite made it happen. I mostly stayed up to date through mutual friends.\u201d<\/p>\n Reflecting on the situation, the musician said, \u201cI don\u2019t understand how this is real. Everything seemed to be turning around. She was coming BACK to life, wasn\u2019t she?\u201d She then added, \u201cIt\u2019s too young and there\u2019s still so much more life. And her daughter\u2026 Hayden, you are surrounded by love. I\u2019m sorry for every moment I didn\u2019t reach out or check in. This can\u2019t be real.\u201d<\/p>\n