I don’t handle death well. I think this stems from being with my best friend in High School/College when he died. It was a traumatic experience that still haunts me to this day. Even after 18 years one would think that I would get over these emotions and come to grips with some level of acceptance. There are still moments/flashbacks/nightmares that take me right back to the event… a smell, a sound, a phrase, a name, a place, an old friend.

It happened today.

I come home from work and get the news that a High School/College friend is terminally ill with cancer, treatment is not working, and is at the hospital with family and friends waiting to die. She is 36… we graduated High School together… Went to college together… Dated for a little while… Another High School/College friend leaves me a message… gives me the details. Time flashes back in slow motion.