jeremy - the loss of a friend.

This morning I received a devastating phone call from one of my best friends. She was crying when I answered the phone. I knew something bad had happened. Then she told me - our childhood friend had died.

I heard her words. I understood them, but it didn't hit me. I listened to her as she cried. She didn't have any details. She didn't know how he had died. She didn't know much of anything, except that he had died sometime last night.

I talked with her for a while longer and then I hung up the phone.

Then I cried. My friend was gone.

Over the years we had grown a part. We weren't close anymore. We lived very different lives.

But upon hearing of his passing, I felt that connection between us. It was still there and it was strong.

We had grown up together. We lived in the same neighborhood. We did gymnastics and swimming together. We played at each others' homes.

We were close. We were not just acquaintances, we were very good friends. In fact, I loved him. I really loved him.

From the time we were young children up until we were in our early-twenties we were significant parts of each others' lives.

We even went to my prom together - even though he didn't really want to. He was a very good sport about it and trooped through it.

As we grew older we went in different paths.

We talked via text messages on Holidays and birthdays and communicated via Facebook occasionally. We hadn't seen each other in years though. But in reality it didn't and doesn't matter. We were still friends. We had a connection and a bond that was still there.

 

And now he is gone. He is just gone.

 

I will miss him. I am sad. I miss my friend.
 
But I am glad that I knew him - that I have those happy memories of us growing up together.
 
He will forever be in my heart and I will never forget him.
 
May he rest in peace.