You live on through I

All hail the king.

Not for power, but for presence.

For the stories you helped shape,

the moments you made lighter,

the words you left behind.

You were never loud,

never overwhelming, just steady,
kind and consistent.

And now… absent.
But not gone.

It's your birthday today
while your age will never go up,
the amount of people you inspire will
because every time I write,

every time I reach out,

every time a story continues
there’s a piece of you there.

We started something.

A city. A path.

In a world made by and full of
wonderous people
and I’m still walking it.

Not in your place

but with what you left behind.

This isn’t a day of loss.

It’s a day of continuation.

Of remembering

that connection matters

while we’re here.

That stories don’t end

just because someone leaves the page.

They echo.

They carry.

They live on.

And so do you.

Through memory.

Through creation.

Through all of us who still write.

Happy Birthday, Mad.

[Expanded Thoughts Below]

All hail the king. I don't know why you picked that name, MadEmperor. I just know that you were Mad. Not mad as in angry. Just Mad as in the first part of your username. It was you, but you were never actually angry. At least, not from my perspective. You were kind and helpful. Your posts were on the shorter side, but it was fun to read and fun to interact with. It made stories easy to continue. I know you had other people that you RP'd with for much longer than I, and I know that they likely felt your loss much more strongly than I. But it's rough.

I would like you to know that we are continuing with what we love to do. We still write, in part because of you. At least I do. I know that every time I interact with people, I remember that you will never get a chance to with anyone else. And it's really strange because I think of you often, and it pushes me to try to stay engaged with the people who are here. I've never lost a close, creative friend before, at least not so recent. We weren't even that close. I believe I feel this way because we had stories that we were plotting. We had a city that we started. We had goals, and now I am trying to achieve them without you. I am trying to live vicariously through those dreams, through your spirit, but I have to remember, this is not a sad day.

"This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad." I remember the final closing song of My Hero Academia, and it reminds me of you. The words inspire me. You live on through all of us, all those who you interacted with. I am happy to have your spirit coursing through me. I am happy to know that I can exist in this world, and it's brighter because I knew you. I just hope that I can take advantage of the moments where I am able to interact with others, and not just see what could be lost, but understand what can be gained. Another insight, another world, another adventure. All things are possible, and death is not the end.

You live on through I.