Goodbye to a Friend

“It was good to see you, Bill. Catch you later!”

Those were my last words to a friend. Days later—yesterday—he was gone.

It was sudden and fast. A car crash. His car struck another.

Something that made no sense to me. Bill was not the reckless type. Then, finally, a little more detail became known: he was in apparent cardiac arrest when the accident happened.

There is the possibility that he was already gone before the cars collided.

Sleeves rolled up, ready to help, Bill was one of those people who was always there. Someone you always expected to be there. His hand was always there to shake mine. He always made the effort to seek me out and make me feel welcome. That was the kind of person he was.

And now, he isn’t there.

At the same time, he is.

A common platitude used by people in times of death is, “I’m sorry for your loss.”

Only, in this matter, there is no loss. I gained from having known Bill. And what many others have gained knowing him.

No matter how much I wish I could change what happened, I can’t. 

Instead, moving forward, I will pick up the candle of his example and use that as a light to guide others.

My friend will be missed. But I won’t wallow in the pain of sorrow. Instead, I will reach out my hand and clasp the hands of others with a grip of friendship and welcome.

Just as Bill did the last time I saw him.