It's been a rough day.
About 18 months ago a friend of mine from high school posted a Go FundMe on Facebook for a mutual friend who was battling cancer. This mutual friend was someone I'd been very close to in elementary and middle school. As happens, we remained friends, but drifted apart a bit in high school, different interests and new friend groups, etc.
We went off to different colleges and touched base infrequently, but we did touch base. He came to visit me when certain musicians were performing in town and we would go to those shows together. We shared a love for jazz bands and artists like Medeski, Martin and Wood, Bill Frisell, Miles Davis, etc.
I had no idea he'd been fighting cancer for more than a year. I called him up and got the full story. He was upbeat and optimistic that he would beat it. I planned to go see him, then COVID hit. We stayed in touch, talked every few weeks and texted back and fourth almost daily. It was as if no time had past in the intervening years since childhood.
A few weeks ago, he texted me that he was in the hospital. The cancer that had ravaged his liver and bowels had spread to his lungs. He was undergoing a tough round of chemo to "nip it from [his] lungs so he could return to bettersville."
The texts became less frequent. I asked him how he was doing. He said the chemo had made things worse. He was on four liters of oxygen and still couldn't catch his breath. The optimism that he'd expressed for the last 18 months was gone. I cried, told him my heart was breaking for him, that I loved him and that if there was anything I could do for him, please let me know.
He thanked me for being a good friend. That was a week ago.
I meant to text him yesterday. Life got in the way. Last night I was laying in bed concerned. I picked up my phone and searched for obituaries in my home town where he still lived. Nothing, thankfully.
This morning a post in our high school class group on Facebook said that he had passed away yesterday. I cried again. My mind raced with memories of carefree days growing up with him as a constant companion. He was special. Always kind and caring.
Rest in peace, Grant. I already miss our conversations.
Hug your loved ones, cherish the moments. Life is short.
