To my best friend

by Abraham Avilés
(Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México)

Good Afternoon. My name is Abraham and José was my loyal friend, my confidant, my mentor for 15 years. He was more like my older brother. We had many experiences during that time. We laughed, we cried, we fought, and laughed again. I can go on for hours talking about the kind of person he was but, I think many of you here already know. José was the friendliest, sweetest, most comprehensive, and humble person I ever met in my life. Always worrying about the welfare of others. His favorite quote was as follows:

"I shall pass through this world but once, any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."

I have good memories of my friend. In these 15 years of friendship I only remember one fight, and it was over nothing. That day I was here visiting for the weekend, and as you know, José was a very punctual person and, I am not.

It was a Saturday and we were going to the movies. I was getting ready, taking my precious time. It was two hours before the movie started and José was rushing me. I got very angry. I grabbed my things and said "Take me to the airport!" The worst of it is that he took me. When we got to the drop-off zone at the airport I told him that I was joking, and he started to laugh and said to me "Do not play with me, you moron!" And from that day "take me to the airport" became one of our phrases and "moron" one of our "mature" words.

He always used to tell me "Oh Abe, I'm not a fan of new technology!" So, he always used to call me and ask for help with his computer or TV.
"Abe, can you fix my computer? I think it has virus.”
“Abe, my internet is not working. My power light on the modem is off, can you fix it?”
I Was His PC, Tier 1 personal assistant. He was such a "non-technology guy" that he got an iPhone before me.

We spent four Christmases together at my house in Mexico: four Christmases I will never forget. They were unique. He did not wanted the regular Christmas dinner. All he wanted was Carne Asada Tacos; his “vampiros”. Oh, and fruit waters. Watermelon was his favorite. It was a ritual.

The last Christmas that we spend together I said to him, "Enough of Tacos José, I want a real American Christmas dinner" So that Christmas Eve we went and ate his tacos and on Christmas day we prepared and ate a juicy turkey.

I will never forget our vacation in Mexico City. That trip was planned with a year in advance. We did an itinerary and everything. Of course that, when we got there, we didn’t follow, but we saw what we wanted to see and more. I'm glad that we made that trip together. It was his idea and it was a great one. He wanted to visit museums, and we did visit a lot of them.

Can't forget our trip to Disneyland! GOD we were two goofies running around the park. He also helped with my sister's quienceañera, where he met all my family members.

I almost forgot his Feng Shui. He was crazy about that. Our plan for this coming Christmas was for him to visit Chihuahua and "Feng Shui" my new place.

I can keep talking about our moments together but like I said at the beginning that would take lots and lots of time.

The last time I came here was in October of last year. Who knew that it was going to be the last time I would see him alive? I was supposed to stay only for a week but God had another plans. For some reason I bought the wrong ticket for the flight back, so I ended up staying here a month. I really thankful with God for that opportunity.

38 days ago my best friend passed away. And he left an empty place in my heart; a place that nobody can fill. June 4 was the saddest and most painful day I've had in my life until now. That day I got the call that my best friend had died. It is a memory that I cannot erase from my mind, neither from my heart. Although I told him lots of time that I loved him dearly, I would give anything to turn back time and tell him that I love him one last time, to tell him that without him my life is not complete, and that he is a very important part of it.

People say that time heals all wounds, but today I can tell you that's not true. Till today, I feel the same pain in my heart that I felt that Thursday evening.

I know he is closer to me, that there’s no more distance or time difference that separates us now. I thank you José for those years of friendship that you gave me. Thank you for everything that you did for me. I want you to know my friend, that I love you with all my heart and that I always remember you. You will always be my gordis, my friendly friend.


You are leaving
Greeting
From a place that
Empty is without you

I see your eyes shining,
Slowly turning
Into crystal clouds.
That’s how
I will always remember you

There is so much of you
That now I feel mine.
If there is a paradise, I bet there’s one
Wrapped in the sky
I know you are.

Now you are leaving me,
Leaving me this way.
Thinking about how to suppress
The last beat.
but no,
Your train already left

I say farewell
Not saying good bye,
The longing for you
Floods my void.
You will be present in every memory;
In every advice, you will live.

In front of my house, I promise,
I would plant a tree on your name my dearest friend.

Farewell my friend
Greet the Lord for me
Being your friend
Has been an honor.

Song by Laura Pausini (Te digo adios/ Te dico Ciao)