by Keair Geliga

Created on: January 24, 2007   Last Updated: May 11, 2007

No need to be afraid.
Written5/30/01

About 2 years ago, I had a friend who passed away in a car accident. She wasn't only a friend she was my mentor. She was only a year older than I was but she had a head on her shoulders. We went to the same high school and lived in the same project in Brooklyn. She was a smart, funny, and outgoing and she had a weak heart for all children.

I don't know if anyone else knew it but I knew that one day she would be a leader of some sort.

When she was taken away from all of us who adored her not only was her parents, 2 year old son, brother and all other who have been touched b y this specimen of life was broken hearted. Mine was literally crushed. It was so quick it blew my mind.

For about 4 months straight I went home to my empty apartment (at that time I was single) and stayed up crying g because I was so afraid that I wouln't wake up in the morning.

In July of that same year, my future husband introduced men to his significantly closest friend and his family. This guy was the most fun person to be around he had this knack for overturning any video game you put him to challenge. He was simply amazing.

He always sat outside on his stoop in Queens and everybody that passed by stopped to talk to him. Even if he didn't know you, hew would stop you and talk. He was just this outgoing friendly person. Everyone loved him.

After a couple of months, my future husband told me that his beloved friend had cancer. I was shocked because in my eyes when you have cancer you are bedridden and always sick but not him his torch was always bursting with flames.

After I found out everything still went on the same hanging, joking, going out and chatting on the email until he started going to the hospital more often than getting his chemotherapy. Then at Thanksgiving time, he would begin his longest stay in the hospital.

My now husband would make it to the hospital almost everyday but me I stayed away. I was scared. What do you say to a person who is literally staring death in the face? I knew his wife was upset at me because he would ask for me and my husband would have to give some lame excuse.

I finally brought up the courage to visit him. I was there early that day and no one else was there but the both of us. We talked for about an hour. He told me that I didn't have anything to worry about and that he was just happy to see me. After that day, I came more often until his death.
This man was my hero no one else knows this until now with his spirits high on life and happiness, there was no need for me to be afraid of dying anymore.

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