Former Rotorua woman Susie Turner knows how quickly people can be taken away and wants them to cherish every moment they have with their loved ones.
Her partner, Jason McCauley, was killed in a crash on Ngongotaha Rd about 5pm on July 14 (pictured) when his motorcycle and a car travelling north were in collision.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Ms Turner said her world was turned upside down when her partner of more than two years, affectionately known as Bull Frog, died.
She said a lot of people took their loved ones for granted and she urged people to cherish the significant people in their lives because they could be taken away at any moment.
"You just don't know what's going to happen," Ms Turner said.
"I'm glad I met him but I'm gutted I didn't get to spend more time with him."
Ms Turner said that when Mr McCauley, 38, crashed he was on his way home to Te Teko from a motorcycle ride around the Bay of Plenty with friends.
He was riding a Triumph motorcycle he had bought in February.
Ms Turner said Mr McCauley was an experienced rider and he had grown up riding motorcycles and horses.
She admitted she was getting a little upset on the night he died because she was waiting for him to get home as they had made plans to go out.
She tried texting him and calling him and started to get really worried when she called his phone about 10pm and it was turned off.
It was about 3.30am when she got a text from one of Mr McCauley's cousins telling her "I'm sorry there's been an accident and Frog's dead".
"I was still up at that time because I was worried."
Shortly after, police called her and confirmed what had happened.
Her father drove her straight to Rotorua Hospital where he was.
She couldn't believe Mr McCauley had died and expected him to sit up in the hospital bed.
It's been more than two weeks since Mr McCauley died but Ms Turner said even now she was still waiting for him to come home and give her a radical excuse about what had happened.
Ms Turner said Mr McCauley loved having fun.
She described him as a man who loved his three children he had from a former relationship and someone who would jump to help his friends and family at any time.
"He loved life to the fullest, he was always on the go, he was always doing something fun," Ms Turner said.
"He was a good dad, his kids were his world.
"He was loved by so many people."
Ms Turner was still waiting for the pain to ease but often found herself breaking down, especially when she was alone.
"It's been horrible, it seems to be getting worse really.
"It's going to bed at night and waking up in the morning."
She said when she saw couples around her being affectionate, she was reminded of what she no longer had.
"Going out and dancing, that's what I'll miss most - his laugh, he was a crack up - he was always laughing.
"Home will never be the same, I'll never be the same."