For Eric

Once upon a time, a girl read a book. That book was Woke Up in a Strange Place by Eric Arvin. It was one of the best books she’d ever read. It incorporated every lesson she had ever learned about God, and about gay romance, all tangled up into one sweet walk through the afterlife.

The girl finished the book and reached out to the author. He responded. HE RESPONDED.

We had a short conversation about how my favorite authors *never* talk to me (this was before the phone call with Amy Lane) and we talked about his books. He interested me in the Jasper Lane books (and his entire backlog, which are all fantastic!), and I wished I could live there. I still want to live there.

I have lived vicariously through Facebook, watching the love story evolve between Eric and Tj. I cried over every surgery, every setback, until I closed my fan Facebook account and we lost touch. I attempted to add him to my new account, but, understandably, he didn’t add me back. Even so, we have enough mutual friends that I thought I was keeping up-to-date.

I read something this morning that broke my heart. Eric will be taken off his ventilator on Monday.

This is the final goodbye, my friend. May you wake up in that strange place again, find your father again, and live the life you want to live in a body that won’t betray you. I believe in reincarnation. I believe that love will find you in another life. I expect this for you.

You are loved. So loved. I will miss you so much. You are amazing.