Candlelight vigils flickered across the Valley to honor Las Vegas victims

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- From Fresno to Clovis, moments of silence honoring those who died in the Las Vegas shooting but also to comfort survivors like Michele Fiester.

"I wanted to be able and come to pay my respects to the people who weren't as fortunate to make it home as I was," said Fiester.

Michele was standing near the stage when she witnessed one of the darkest days of American history. Her voice still trembles when thinking about the carnage.

"The people I saw shot --so many things that will never be the same again," said Fiester.

It is these stories that prompted so many to attend vigils across the Valley--some to remember lives lost like Fresno State alumna Kelsey Meadows.

"When you put people's names and faces and occupations and lives to the numbers that are posted all over the news, that's what makes it real," said Alexis Macedo.

Healing from those memories is one reason Michele was there.

"Taking a shower I couldn't do it, the water hitting the ground sounded like gunfire, I can't listen to the radio, Jason Aldean is one of my favorite country singers, I don't know if I could ever listen to his music again," said Fiester.

The vigil is the first step in finding the strength to live on as a survivor, for the people who did not.