“I find my life quietly finding meaning in the recognition of others. You know, we live in each other’s judgments, society decides which of your choices will make you happy. And yet, sometimes, I still believe my heart is meant for something bigger than that. But I have no standard to look up to. I feel like something you once tried to write beautifully, but then mistakenly erased.”

He wore a bitter grin, sipping his coffee constantly, as if it will find the right word for him.

“I don’t understand that,” I said.

He used to be so much more than anyone I knew, giddy, even foolish. But he was comforting to be around, a few years ago. Now, he had lost the joy inside him, the spark that once drew my attention.

I never knew the world could take someone away from me like this. I thought we only lose people when they die. It never crossed my mind that someone could die this way.

For me.