Mors Semper Certa Est

Sadly, I heard a couple of days ago that Johanne Wilkinson, with whom I spent 7 years of my life going through high school and college, died on Monday. She had cancer. I remember Pete telling me a while ago, and thinking she would be fine. It turns out not. I've felt empty the last couple of days - my college days were not my finest. Johanne had a hard time during college and I remember being a complete twat. She was the first vegetarian I ever met, and I suppose subconsciously she had a profound effect on me. I remember she was the first person to introduce the concept to me. Although I did laugh at the time. I didn't speak to her much after college, but the few times I did, I could tell that she was happy with life and her fiancé.

Back in year 7, in our memorable form room C7, we used to have thought for the day. At 11 years old, we weren't expected to become immortal with our quoting, but one thought for the day stuck with me. It was started by Damien Lynch (what happened to him?) and was to do with living your life to the full. Fair enough. For reasons lost in the sands of time, Miss Balmer started to tell us that the sad reality is "at least one" of us out of the class of 30 would die of cancer. I recall looking round the room, frightened to death.

I'm still frightened to death - I heard a song by Gold Kids the other day that really resonates with me. That same day, I heard that Johanne had died. RIP Johanne.

This is my tragedy

Beginning with the number 3

This is our endless winter

When all we needed was a summer sun

This is how to feel distant

Even though we're one

Step away from the grave

This is how we fail

So every time we've tried to smile

Mother luck took our happiness away

Any any hope was fake

This is how everything ends

This is my ode to youth

Goodbye youth