The Darkest Days

The news comes as a shock. 27 years old is no age to lose your life. But there is no clock and no set time.

This was my oldest and closest friend. We were at school together from the age of 4. We remained close until that fateful night in October 1997. That was just over 20 years ago. Life moves on, but sometimes it can feel like only yesterday. Especially on anniversaries and especially on the 20th one. I started Steemit around this time. Writing can be a great comforter. I don't think it is such a coincidence that I threw myself into it.

On a stormy night in 1997, two of my best friends ventured down to the sea. They were on the sea wall path, when a wave come over and pulled one of them into the sea. My other friend tried to rescue him. But it was no use and he was gone.

It is at these moments when you realise how close our friendship group is. We mourned together for the next week, until the time of the funeral.

It is afterwards; when everyone disbands and goes home that the sadness kicks in. The shock of what happens turns to a feeling of emptiness, numbness. You wonder if you are condemned to always feeling like this.

Hope and sunny days does return to your life over time. Life moves on and there will be joys. Meeting someone, getting married, new arrivals. But there are times when the sadness returns. You just have to remember and let this period pass naturally.

You also have to remember to make the most of your life. You never know when your time is up. You have to enjoy and make the most of the present, instead of always looking at the future.

I like to think that is exactly what I have done.