I haven't had much time to really give my thoughts on this, but I'll give it my best shot to deliver this in a meaningful way. I'm not good with words, and it's worse when I'm in the mental state I'm in because I get lost in thought in the middle of writing.

A little over two months ago now, someone I considered a good friend passed away. Some of y'all watching me knew him as Forest. I don't know what happened, and I'll be respectful not to push for details. He died September 3rd, and I didn't find out until September 15th. I was in Basic training in the Army at the time. It hit me pretty hard.

The day I found out, I broke. With the exception of my childhood dog, no death I ever went through had ever made me cry, and I've lost quite a few people over the years. Just this year alone I had two people I knew pass away. It stung, but not near as bad as finding out that Forest was gone.

I pushed on for about a week, tried to keep going. But his death was and is something I've had a hard time accepting. Every now and then I find myself writing to him, talking with him as if he were right next to me. Sometimes I feel as though he is. I often catch myself saying things like "The others need you more than me."

I didn't know him as well as I would've liked to. The interactions I did have from him though were always positive. I haven't gone through our DMs yet, I've been putting it off, as well as looking through his gallery and other things, because I'm still having such a hard time with coming to terms that he's gone.

I'm a pretty young guy, I'm 22 now, and I met him not long after I turned 19, three years ago. I've met quite a few extraordinary people through him, and for that I'm thankful. I'm thankful to have met him, to have been inspired by him, regardless of how short I knew him.

He was a man who pushed himself to great lengths to make the community he built happy, to provide for those he loved, and all and all be a great human being. Someone I consider to be a really great friend has said many of the same things:   Shirou14 but it doesn't stop the fact of any of it being any less true.

I got a tattoo of the collar he drew on his Sona, forever engraved on my right wrist. Inside the medallion is a wolf paw. A little reminder of him for me, I guess.

Forest had a huge heart, and he lived with a love and compassion I haven't seen in much of society. I dare to say he was more human than most of us. It hardly seemed like anything could bring him down. Now he's flying high. And I know he's watching us, proud of everyone for being as strong as they have been.

I would like to say I too am proud of everyone. You guys are strong. He lives on through you, through me, through the entire community he's built over the years. Together we'll get through this.

I'm checking in on everyone I can. Being there for everyone as much as I can. As the Army Infantry likes to say, "Follow me!" Because together, I know we'll push through.

And for you Forest, if you're watching, fly high, brother. We miss you... I miss you. Leave a light on for everyone and guide them through the dark. Until the day we meet again, brother...