RIP my Friend, I Miss You.

[u/EUGsk8rBoi42p]

This was exactly where Will was sitting, 2022, shops were just starting to phase out masks and let people dine in again... we never hung out much, but we had shared history from high school.

We'd met in a special class called "Healthy Choices", which, as you may guess, was a class for kids who were close to dropping out of high school. We were part of the last class in the program before it was discontinued, it was a small class, like 12 of us, the teacher was also the Catering instructor. Super chill guy, there was a workbook we technically had, but the teacher told us, "They're cancelling this class, so forget the workbook, we're just gonna have a group chat, everyone gets a turn to talk about their life."

And that was the class. For the final, the teacher took the day off and had a substitute show up to play, "The Breakfast Club" for us, breaking the deal I'd made with him to let us watch, "Freddy Got Fingered". 😀

We both were known for dating girls that were too good for us, and never stepped on each others toes. He was a true friend, every time I was feeling down after a breakup or anything, he'd say the most over-the-top compliments that any bro could give another bro.

"No woman is good enough for you" He'd say.

"You have the deepest blue eyes of any man who's ever lived, the most flawless skin, a smile that could kill an angel, the most perfect juicy lips that no woman deserves." Etc., etc.

No matter how down I was, he always had a sense of humor that would cheer me up. Dude was hilarious.

So anyways, I walked into the Jewish Bakery, and he immediately waved me over, "******* Get over here man! WATSUP!" He said, leaning sideways in his chair, SUPREME t-shirt, ripped jeans, he was red in the face because the methadone clinic had just upped his dosage, and he had a half-eaten Reuben sandwich in front of him, with a bag of weed out while he struggled to roll a joint from being in such a sloppy state.

I smiled and sat down, the scene was ludicrous. The only reason he wasn't being asked to leave was because he'd definitely tipped the girls working more than what the room full of Boomers had collectively given from their stingy change-clinging fists... and said Boomers were clearly struggling to avoid the elephant in the room.

He was happy to see me, but he always had this look on his face, it was this pain that showed through, I never knew how much pain he was in until he was gone.

The last I heard from him, he'd gotten sober (besides weed), and cleared rehab, he was excited to move to Portland and had a job lined up trimming weed, I think it may have been his first job that wasn't working for family.

About abyear later, it was Valentine's Day, which was also his birthday... 2023, I was feeling down about a very slow-burn breakup, saw the Facebook reminder about his birthday, and posted something... that was when someone I'd never met replied, Will was dead, he'd been gone for almost a year, he died about 2 months after getting out of rehab, I was struggling with money and heartbreak for so long, I hadn't reached out earlier...

It reminded me, one time, I was hitting on a girl over Snapchat, and received a picture message from her account.... it was Will, he'd fingerpainted a sign that said, "I ❤️ You (my name)". I'll never remember that moment and not smile. Later he said, "She's not good enough for you. Trust me."

I always put a lot of work into Valentine's Day for my girlfriends, it felt like a personal mission, because the town I was born in invented Valentine's Day... so the years where I was single used to hurt, I used to rerun my memories, blame myself... but none of that hurt like how it felt to find out he was gone, to know he'd BEEN gone for over a year, and I was too f*cking selfish to reach out and see how he was doing... to cheer him on, and that I'd never have that opportunity again.

He'd always say, "You're going to be the Mayor, you're going to be a Congressman, you're going to change the World."

I never got to say goodbye, and I don't even know where his grave is, because his family scattered his ashes in a local park, with no marker... I know the hill, but I haven't been up there to look or try to guess exactly where they scattered his ashes, I'm disabled because of an injury, and that's a long walk of pain, just to feel lost at the top... but I think I feel ready to go and take a look, you know, just to listen to the wind, to see the view, even if I can't find his exact resting place.

If you read this far, I hope you're reminded of a good friend, and I hope they're out there for you to reunite with. And for all the Bros on here struggling with a relationship or heartbreak, I'm going to say,

"Stay Blessed King, You Deserve Better."

[u/image-sourcery]

Hi, I’m a mod assistant and I set up one-click reverse image searches for each post. Here, at BDD, we require a food pic with every post and we require each post to be authentic. That means the food pic you submit must be your own, not something you found on the internet.

But I can’t report fakes. If you see that I have linked to a pic that is found elsewhere on the internet, REPORT IT!

---

Reverse Image Search:

Google Images || TinEye

---

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Minute_Falcon2834]

My condolences. I also lost a friend, who had issues with addiction. Grief comes in waves. I miss my friend too, it's so painful to see someone in destruction mode who you know has such a pure heart and Soul. I think going to the hill and having a "Ceremony" of sorts for him is a very powerful thing to do to honour him and connect with him and say goodbye. He will hear you. <3

[u/EUGsk8rBoi42p → u/Minute_Falcon2834]

I'm not much of a musician, but I'll bring my Kalimba.

Stay Blessed. 🙏

[u/RottingSludgeRitual]

This is an incredibly sweet tribute to a friend who has gone to the other side. I don’t know you, and I didn’t know him, but I’m pretty sure he would have loved this.

You’re an excellent writer, btw.

[u/EUGsk8rBoi42p → u/RottingSludgeRitual]

Thanks fam, I really appreciate this sub, elevators go up and down, that's life, we just gotta keep it going in the right direction.

[u/ResponsibleGhost98]

I feel the same way about my brother in the army. Dude always put a smile on my face no matter what. Found out he passed away when I was on deployment. Honestly one of the worst things I’ve ever felt in my life. I pray I see him again in the next life. Sorry for your loss man. Thanks for sharing.

[u/EUGsk8rBoi42p → u/ResponsibleGhost98]

Man, I never had a chance with the Army because of my injuries, but it feels like I've been on deployment the past 20 years.

Elevators go up and down, feels like this one is ready to start heading in the right direction again.

[u/Low_Garage3721]

So sorry for your loss. I know you have a sense of guilt, but it truly isn’t your fault. Addiction is a fucking demon.

[u/EUGsk8rBoi42p → u/Low_Garage3721]

Haven't had a Reuben sandwich in years, on the list, it's all about "Peace in Small Moments", if you can find peace in small moments, you can find peace in any moment.

[u/Suck-Carrot-653]

Will is everywhere now because of this. We will never have enough time to love people. Now you got me thinking of those who I lost but never speak about.

[u/EUGsk8rBoi42p → u/Suck-Carrot-653]

The mind forgets as a defense mechanism, but life is meant to be felt and remembered. Another good friend of mine shot himseld years ago, at the same Masonic Cemetery bench we'd drink beers at when too many Boomers called the cops on us for being loud at the park.

Another kid, my friend's little brother, was so small when I met him he'd hug my shin and barely reach my knee, grew up to be like 6'4", never got a job or moved out of his Mom's house, put an AR-15 in his mouth and pulled the trigger. Dude's older brother showed me the patch from the bullet hole in the wall, same house I'd slept over at when I was 12.

At least another half dozen good people I knew died from overdoses. More depending on how you count "knowing" someone, that number doubles or triples.

America, and modern humanity, needs to have these conversations, we have a responsibility to break the cycle of unnecessary loss.

[u/iweararmani]

Bro.

[u/EUGsk8rBoi42p → u/iweararmani]

Always here man. Stay Blessed. 🙏

[u/AutoModerator]

Welcome to BoyDinnerDiaries! Thank you for posting!

Reminder for everyone:

• Posts must include a clear photo of your meal

• Include a short diary-style story about what is on your mind

• All posts must have a flair

• Be civil and kind so no hate speech, incel content, and no referencing other subreddits unless its positive.

Thanks for helping keep the sub great!

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.