Does Friendship Exist In The Afterlife?

When you left, part of me died.

Friendship lasts a lifetime, 

so I pray you recognize me in the afterlife.

 I stop scribbling. I cannot do it. I won't do it!

*

It felt like I was getting rid of what remained of Joseph's memory, but I couldn't bring myself to like it. Though we knew each other for two weeks, each day felt like a month. He saved my life. Like Jesus, He gave up his life for me.

Joseph met me as my breath drew closer to it exit. A damaged kidney with no donor was a result of shabby living. When the doctor said I had only two weeks to live, everything went into chaos. I became a shadow in a hallow body. It was no surprised I passed out on that Wednesday afternoon at the market.

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I noticed was the white walls of the hospital, the beeping noise the heart monitor made, the young man dressed in white, staring at me. 

“How are you feeling?” 

It took a brief discussion of 3 minutes to recognize that he was a medical doctor. I couldn't believe my luck! A medical doctor was on standby when I passed out! I gained clarity at that moment, It wasn't difficult to figure out what was wrong with me.

His gentle voice inquired why I had difficult getting on with the kidney transplantation, I explained my predicament. I was an orphan and had no one around me. When I was diagnosed with kidney failure, I didn't know what to do. I knew there was no one to help, and I was too that all I could afford was pity.

I lived with the pain and agony, patiently waiting for my death. But when it came knocking, my stubbornness won over my infantile preparedness of death. 

Joseph took an interest in me. Our relationship boycotted the doctor-patient pact. Everyday, he would check up on me and stayed stuck to my bed engrossed with our tidbits of gossip. The pains at my ribcage wasn't strong enough to stop my laughter from rippling through the hospital because of his jokes. 

He made my last days on earth memorable, and the least I could give him, in gratitude, was a chuckle. With the little time we spent with each other, we created a bond.

My joviality and free spirit was the bait and soon enough, he wished I could stay for a while. To live and not suffer. So he became donor. To save me from freaking out, he vowed himself to secrecy. 

 Unfortunately, during the surgery, Joseph's lungs collapsed. Before the doctors could insert a tube into the chest to expand the lungs, his last breath wizzled into the air.

My surgery was successful, I was excited to tell Joseph that I wasn't going to die anymore, I received the news. In the process of giving me life, my savior had died.

It was a heavy blow and my heart was unable to take it; just like the day we met, I passed out. Only this time, I won't be waking up to him by my side. 

When I woke up, my body became the hollow container that it was before. In such little time, Joseph had shown me the bright colors of life, but now all I could see was pitch black. 

We had jokingly called each other best friends and had promised to wear matching outfits once I was out of the hospital. He was so sure I would leave, for both of us. 

 Moving on was hard for me. I didn't want to let go. I couldn't let go. I wrote notes and letters to him, read them aloud and cried myself to sleep every night.

I tried to write a poem for him, but I couldn't. I just couldn't. It felt like I was dumping the memories we shared on a mere sheet of paper. 

Tragedy roused his head again. 

Because I couldn't stop thinking about Joseph's death, my BP rose. It was over the top. A week after my surgery, heart failure came back with a resounding clap. 

Everyone was scared I was going to die, so they had me bedridden. No matter what they did, my health got worse.

*

I can feel it again. My chest is tightening and I can barely breathe. I hear the ruckus around, but I am not bothered. I can feel my eyes slowly closing. I know it is over.

I clutch my paper tightly, as Joseph's words ring in my ear.

“We don't have to know each other for a year. I am your friend, Andrea.”

“I promise to do something. Friends help friends.”

 Maybe we'll know each other better now.

Is there friendship in the afterlife?