Hey there, friend.
It took me a year and nine months to contact you again.
I never told you how much of an inspiration you were to me.
I never told you how much I appreciated the fact that a person of your position and stature would speak so humbly to a young, naive and inexperienced kid who just entered the workforce. I was enchanted by your experiences and knowledge, and damn, a good storyteller you were. I'm grateful for all the life lessons, and I'm thankful for having you as a role model of character. I had always been amazed by the amount of enthusiasm you had in imparting your wisdom. Sometimes you were tired, but you never seemed so.
I saw you in your worst days, and I saw you climb back up. I was really happy to see you getting your life back on track the last we met, though it was taken from you again, this time forever, a mere six months later. I'm glad to see you do the work you did, to continue being an inspiration to so many others, in your selfless provision of time and energy. I hope my light-hearted banter in your darkest times helped to keep you from straying onto a path you'd never return from. You gave me a treat to thank me for the kindness I showed to you in those days, but I've never told you how much kinder I felt you were to me.
It took me a year and nine months to contact you again, the last message though, to no avail, and another month to finally suspect something was amiss - to come to the shocking realisation, after looking you up, that you were gone. I didn't contact you for reasons I'd rather not state, partly because I assumed you'd still be around the next time I did. Looking through your messages, I guess you kinda' knew, especially in your position, and you kinda' prepared me for the fact that your time wasn't going to be long. But in retrospect, I guess I wasn't ready to take that in. I'm sorry I couldn't be there, because I didn't consider the possibility that you might not be here now.
It wasn't much, but I'll miss the times we spoke, and I'll miss all the lessons I'll never learn from you. And I thank you for everything.
You've achieved so much in the distinguished life you lived, and wherever you are, I hope you're at peace. See you again sometime. Maybe then we'll finally sit down for a chat once more, roasting marshmallows over the fireplace, while preparing a rum-infused concoction of hot chocolate.
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