It’s almost been a week since Whitney Houston passed away, and now the singer’s on-and-off boyfriend Ray J has finally broken his silence.

The singer/rapper/producer released the following statement Friday morning:

Over the past few days I’ve tried to process the emptiness that I am experiencing. What my heart feels cannot be expressed in words. The world lost an icon but I lost my close friend. Nippy I miss you so much! You were so happy and full of love. Your smile will live in my heart forever.

-Ray J Norwood

According to US Weekly, on February 9th, two days before she died, Whitney Houston was spotted hanging out with her daughter Bobbi Kristina and “cuddling” with Ray J before jumping on stage for a duet of “Yes, Jesus Loves Me” with Grammy nominee Kelly Price.

Whitney Houston is all smiles on a night out with Ray J at Sunset Plaza in West Hollywood, California on February 3rd, 2012.

The week before, Whitney and Ray J — who were said to be rekindling their romance — were pictured out at the Sunset Plaza together, which sadly later went on to become the last time the public would see the pair out together.

READ: Ray J Distraught and “Crushed” Over Whitney Houston’s Death

Whitney Houston was found dead in the bathtub at her hotel room at the Beverly Hilton in California last Saturday afternoon (Feb 11) just hours before the Clive Davis Pre-Grammy event, which the R&B icon was scheduled to attend. She was 48 years old.

READ: Whitney Houston was Found Underwater and Unconscious in Bathtub

Houston will be buried in New Jersey on Saturday, February 18th following a funeral service that will be streamed live online and on select TV networks starting at 12 pm EST.