Sam Dean | The Roanoke Times

Whitney Crawford draws a symbol shared with Morgan Harrington and her family in the parking lot at Northside High School before a vigil for Harrington on Thursday night. The two dots, four dots and one dot stand for the phrase "I love you too much, forever, and once more."

Sam Dean | The Roanoke Times

As the last balloon released at a vigil for their daughter Morgan Harrington climbs into the sky behind them, Gil Harrington rests her head on husband Dan Harrington's shoulder. Northside High School was the site of a vigil Thursday night for Morgan Harrington, who disappeared Saturday at a Metallica concert.

During the vigil where hundreds of people prayed for her daughter's safe return, Gil Harrington explained what her family members say to bid goodbye. The adage, she explained, was the last thing her daughter said Saturday before she left home to a Metallica concert where she disappeared. It went:

"I love you too much ...

Forever ...

And once more."

The saying was represented with dots on the purple T-shirts that Morgan Harrington's family and best friends wore to Northside High School on Thursday night.

Two dots.

Four dots.

One dot.

Too much, forever, and once more.

Harrington studied at Northside through her junior year with her eight best friends, who collectively called themselves "The Nine."

"We know she's out there, and we know she's strong and that she's going to come back," said one of them, 20-year-old Jenna Testerman. "This is our way to show support for Morgan, and show support for her family."

It was there, standing before the crowd of high school, neighborhood and work friends who filled half the bleachers of Viking Stadium, that Dr. Dan Harrington explained that amid the blur of the past week -- talking to authorities who are searching for his daughter and pleading with journalists to keep the word out -- he hadn't prepared remarks for the vigil.

But he announced that $100,000 had been raised as a reward for any information leading to his daughter's return. And the fliers handed out at the vigil gave the details that have circulated Virginia and national TV newscasts all week:

"MISSING. Morgan Dana Harrington. Age - 20. Eyes - Blue. Hair - Blonde. Height - 5'6". Weight - 120 lbs. Last seen - Oct. 17 at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville. If you have information, please call: 24-Hour Tip Line, 434-352-3467. www.findmorgan.com."

Then, from a podium in front of the bleachers, six of "The Nine" shared stories about their friendships with Morgan Harrington through the small details that make up a young person's life. Some had met in elementary school, others in high school. They played soccer, studied theater and went water-skiing during the summers. Morgan, apparently, has a signature greeting: The Morgan Hug.

"She's the funniest person I know, which is hard to admit because I like to think of myself as the funniest person I know," said Maggie Herrick, a student at Christopher Newport University. "Morgan, wherever you are, don't give up hope. We'll never give up on you."

Before the vigil was over, some of Morgan Harrington's friends painted white dots on the back windows of the cars parked beside the football field. If everyone shared the message, one of them explained, love and comfort could reach Morgan, wherever she is.

As the cars turned out of the parking lot and onto Peters Creek Road, their message could be seen: Two dots. Four dots. One dot.