In an exclusive excerpt from her new memoir "We Just Might Make It After All," Elyce Arons shares intimate memories of her beloved friend Kate Spade, who died by suicide in 2018. Arons reveals the beautiful bond they shared and a glimpse into Spade's private struggles.

A Friendship That Lasted a Lifetime

Elyce Arons and Kate "Katy" Spade were inseparable from the day they met as college freshmen. They were nearly inseparable, creating the handbag line that became a sensation. But there was another Katy that the world never saw. "She was highly sensitive and felt things more deeply than most," says Arons.

Arons' new memoir reveals their intimate friendship and a glimpse at Spade's private struggles. Losing her, says Arons, is "a permanent ache."

The Day Katy Passed Away

On June 9, 2018, four days after Katy took her own life, Arons had to go to her Park Avenue apartment to pick up some of her clothes from her closet. As soon as she walked in, she felt on edge. Katy usually left every light on 24/7 and kept her drapes tied open. Since her death, paparazzi had been stationed outside. For privacy, someone had closed the drapes and turned off the lights.

Arons shares an excerpt from her memoir:

"I headed for her bedroom, the room where it happened. The usual bright, colorful room was dim and disheveled, so uncharacteristic of the tidy space I knew. Discarded paperwork from the medics who responded to Katy's housekeeper's 911 call lay strewn across the floor."

A Friendship That Spanned Decades

In 1981, Elyce met Katy Brosnahan for the first time on dorm move-in day at the University of Kansas. They transferred to Arizona State University, where Katy met her future husband, Andy Spade. After graduating in the mid-'80s, they moved to Manhattan, where Katy worked at Mademoiselle magazine, Elyce at a French denim brand, and Andy in advertising.

After leaving Mademoiselle in 1992, Katy had an idea. She often could not find just the right handbag for a particular fashion shoot. On the high end of the spectrum, there were leather handbags with complex designs. Beautiful and expensive. On the other end were ultra-chic minimalist evening bags. A solution started brewing in her mind.

By 1993, Katy, Elyce, Andy, and their friend Pamela Bell decided to go into the handbag business. The rest, as they say, is history.

A Legacy That Lives On

Kate Spade's brand took off, and in 1995, they were nominated for a CFDA award. Elyce shares a memorable moment from that night:

"We posed on the red carpet along with fashion royalty Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, and Calvin Klein. I felt like at any moment, security would come by and say, 'Hey! Who are those punks?!'

Katy was being especially quiet. I know she was secretly hoping we wouldn't win just so she could avoid the short acceptance speech. When it was time for the Perry Ellis Award for New Fashion Talent, Katy was clutching both mine and Andy's hands under the table. When the winner was announced—KATE SPADE!—I thought I would burst with jubilation."

Read more about Kate Spade's life and legacy in this article.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741, or go to 988lifeline.org.

Elyce Arons' memoir "We Might Just Make It After All" is on sale June 17 and available for preorder, wherever books are sold.

For more stories on mental health, read LeBron James' story on mental health and its impact on his life.

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