Pain

The terrible phone call came too suddenly. Life shattered into pain. One moment we were trying to wake our sleepy minds from the previous night of fun and in the next instance, space, emotions and time zoomed into a pinpoint of pain like a flash of white.
The family dinner stood hot and steaming on the table waiting to be eaten with relish but it had now been forgotten. All of us stood immobilized around the person hurting so much I wished the glasses and plates in the shelves behind me could shatter in sympathy, just as his soul was shattered in that moment. All my muscles tensed, adrenalin was pumping through my veins willing the limbs to do something to protect him from the unprotectable whilst the mind at the same time was anchoring my body, afraid of moving or touching - as if touch could cause more pain, like pouring salt into a raw wound.

One week ago exactly, the loved one received the phone call everyone dreads - that his best friend, who had been in hospital for the past six months didn’t have a long time left. I could only watch helplessly, recognizing the pain but unable to help. What should one say or do?

The best friend’s nickname can be translated to “he lives” and this morning he died. I only met him once, about one year ago at a huge party for over 100 people so unfortunately I didn’t get to know him personally. He was tall and very good looking; his face had a light in it that I can’t explain other than that it was beautiful. From stories I have heard, he was an amazing person and a wonderful friend.

I don’t know what to write, I don’t know how to comfort. I know that the pain the Drummer Boy feels now will never go away, but it will become bearable eventually. Hopefully he will create something out of that pain one day, for his friend who loved music.