I nearly lost a friend today, and it was the hardest thing that I have ever had to deal with in my life. The friend that I nearly lost was something beyond special, something beyond beautiful, and something beyond pettiness and belittlement. The friend that I almost lost today was someone who cared for me, and laughed for me, cried for me, and held me when I was sad. My friend is someone that I couldn't do without. My friend is someone who deserves happiness beyond what the world has given, who deserves all the joys that life has to offer, all the wonder that creation has to give, and all the gifts that man is born with.

I nearly lost a friend today, and I cried like I never have cried before. My tears were like rivers, without end, the mighty Mississippi in flood. My tears were tears of rage, burning and purifying. My tears were tears of sorrow, sweet and cleansing. My tears were windows into another reality, one of renewed hope, and dangerous devotion.

My friend was a friend to everyone, self depricating to the extreme, and humble beyond all humility. The friend was a hero of the unchampioned, the unsung heart, and the un-decorated gladiator. My friend is something that is rare, a preciousness not found in many places on the earth, and something to be cherished without thought for yourself.

I nearly lost a friend today, because my friend was lost. My friend did not know how to ask for help, and it was happiness, not sadness that proved the undoing. My friend had questions, and lack of self-seteem. My friend had strength, but flawed when it came to the life that a friend has to lead. My friend forgot that the most important person in one's life is one's self. My friend forgot that in helping to heal the pain of others, one couldn't forget to deal with one's own pain. My friend seemed to not realize that it was ok to hurt, and let someone hold your hand when you were sad. My friend seemed to disregard the fact that a friend can have friends as well. My friend forgot how to ask questions. And my friend, who couldn't bring pain to those around him, even if it meant making himself whole, sought to find the missing answers at the end of a rope.

This is submitted in dedication to Moon Burton, a friend who I will love and cherish forever...

I don't ever want to lose a friend, friends are too precious, they are not made, they are born. My friend survived, my friend will survive, but how many friends haven't? How many friends have passed on, trying to be the best friend anyone could ever have? Remember to love yourself, and be the friend to yourself, that you would be to everyone else. The world has a great need for friends, and you are too precious to waste.