Like a lot of teenagers on the internet in the early 00’s, I occasionally found myself in an internet chatroom.
Through this I met a wonderful girl who we’ll call Steph {not real name}.
We lived in the same country but very far apart. It was a great friendship that lasted a few years via MSN (remember those days?) and later text messages but slowly fizzled out.
I have thought about her occasionally over the past decade. What is she up to? Has her life turned out as planned? Is she happy?
Well, I finally have an answer.
It’s not good.
Last night I was doom scrolling social media and I came across a news article. The picture stuck with me for a moment before I came to the realisation … Hey, I know her, it’s Steph!
Clicking the article confirmed I was right and unfortunately the story is utterly heartbreaking.
She did move to the city she planned after college, she got a job in the field she loved, she even got married and had a child.
In an extremely cruel twist of fate, that child was taken from her by an illness aged 4 and she was in the news for documenting their journey, as well as her various fundraising efforts.
Obviously I can’t reach out. I wouldn’t even know how, it’s been 12/13 year since we last spoke and the friendship simmered out before that too.
But it was a real friendship and seeing that something so awful has happened in her life brings me genuine sadness, as well as a feeling of helplessness through inaction.
So, Steph, I know you will never see this but I needed to say it somewhere – I cherished our friendship and wish you every blessing in the future, you didn’t deserve this tragedy.
Comments
I’m so sorry to read this. Are you absolutely sure you can’t reach out? You mention texting, I’ve had the same phone number for 12 years, maybe she will as well?
if she is active in fundraising and getting the word out, I feel like she may be more open to a text message than someone who not in the public eye.
honestly, I think any action you can take that stems from genuine kindness is never going to be something that you regret. I would give it a shot. I am so so sorry for your friend.