The boy who I dated in high school, through grade 10 and 11, passed away this week. He was 26. He had leukemia, and had been battling it for almost six years.
His story is tragic, really. He joined the military right after high school. He married young, at 22, and was diagnosed with cancer just 11 days after his wedding. The marriage didn't stand a chance, and they divorced about two years later. He has been fighting ever since, receiving two bone marrow transplants.
I hadn't spoken to him since we graduated from high school. But, since I am from a small town, I have kept up with what has happened with him. My high school friends and I sent flowers when he relapsed earlier this year. I have thought of him often. And although I am not at all a religious person, I have sent lots of positive energy in his direction.
It seems so sad, and so strange, that he is gone. Although I have had no relationship with him for ten years, I feel a sense of loss. It is like I can't believe that someone that I once loved with everything I had (as a sixteen year old) died.
And I can't stop thinking about his mom. He was raised by a single mom, and has one older brother. For the past six years his mother has been basically consumed by him, and his cancer. For the past year, he has been extremely ill, and she has been by his bedside. I can't imagine what she is feeling. I can't imagine what she is going to do now.
The funeral is tomorrow morning, and my parents are going to attend. I wish that I had moved already, and that I was close enough to attend.
I'm so sorry to hear about this. Now it makes more sense to me why you understood my post yesterday. I know how you feel as well. Death is just hard, whether you were close with the person or not. It reminds us of our mortality. And, when someone dies, all this opportunity and possibilites dies with them. I hope you are feeling better. I have to catch up on your blog! I've been a little out of the loop for a while...
ReplyDelete