It sounds like he maybe felt unseen, but he was clearly seen from how you tell his story. But sometimes we don't communicate to those we love that we see them. As my mom says, don't give me flowers when I'm dead, if you do, do it while I'm still here and alive. We can't always repay those that complimented us, but there's big reason to try. And as a prior alcoholic, drug addiction and overdose sounds like a partial sickness of despair, of not feeling seen.
“His eyes were black like the new moon’s sky.” - You do such an excellent job of describing the way things look and feel. It really puts us in the story. Great piece.
Wow, what a moving piece, Leslie. You're an incredible writer.
I especially love these two passages:
"In front of the fireplace where we shared the night, he said, “You’re beautiful.” Simple words can strike powerfully when they are said by someone who sees not just your appearance but all of your indignant past and the impossibility of where you want to go.
“If anyone should make it big, it should be you.”"
- and -
"Years after he died, I wrote him a letter and burned it in a campfire.
I don’t believe that souls ever leave our world. I know that a person’s life energy can never be lost. It may disintegrate, but it reemerges in some other form."
This was so beautiful Leslie. I still have chills. The line “if anyone should make it big, it should be you” really hit me, you really captured so much in this essay. Thank you for sharing 🙏
This one is sad.
It sounds like he maybe felt unseen, but he was clearly seen from how you tell his story. But sometimes we don't communicate to those we love that we see them. As my mom says, don't give me flowers when I'm dead, if you do, do it while I'm still here and alive. We can't always repay those that complimented us, but there's big reason to try. And as a prior alcoholic, drug addiction and overdose sounds like a partial sickness of despair, of not feeling seen.
The way you're honoring your friend Tim both through sharing this story and by pursuing your dreams is so beautiful. Keep going, Leslie.
“His eyes were black like the new moon’s sky.” - You do such an excellent job of describing the way things look and feel. It really puts us in the story. Great piece.
Wow, what a moving piece, Leslie. You're an incredible writer.
I especially love these two passages:
"In front of the fireplace where we shared the night, he said, “You’re beautiful.” Simple words can strike powerfully when they are said by someone who sees not just your appearance but all of your indignant past and the impossibility of where you want to go.
“If anyone should make it big, it should be you.”"
- and -
"Years after he died, I wrote him a letter and burned it in a campfire.
I don’t believe that souls ever leave our world. I know that a person’s life energy can never be lost. It may disintegrate, but it reemerges in some other form."
This was so beautiful Leslie. I still have chills. The line “if anyone should make it big, it should be you” really hit me, you really captured so much in this essay. Thank you for sharing 🙏
Another moving and beautifully told story Leslie. Thank you.
🥺 I see Tim’s dreams living through you and your essay. Bravo, it’s beautifully written on a craft level and on a soul level.
A brave and beautiful piece Leslie! Thank you for sharing ❤
Very moving // thanks so much for sharing!
❤️