Farewell

Life can take unexpected turns, and sometimes we are caught off guard. A week ago, my world was shaken when I lost a dear friend of over 10 years and my dad became the victim of a kidnapping attempt, during which he was shot twice. I didn’t find out until the next morning, and the shock was overwhelming.

I never thought I would have to grieve the loss of this particular friend, despite our ongoing jokes about how he was older and would go before me, and all the things I would do to make sure he woke up so he could whoop my ass. I also never imagined my dad on a hospital bed, looking so vulnerable and fragile. My dad had always been a symbol of strength and power to me, but that day he was just a father in pain, worrying about his kids. And the absence of Pascal, my friend, made it all the more painful.

Pascal was no longer here to give me straightforward advice on how to navigate being the illegitimate son of a married bourgeois de grande famille. We would have laughed about the situation, and he would have eventually said, « Hey, you’re a man, and you’ll figure it out in due time. » That’s who my friend was: a man down to earth when it came to solving problems, but with his head in the clouds when it came to creativity. Despite our different backgrounds and social circles, Pascal and I merged our passion for the arts, and it became the foundation of our friendship.

We were atypical, but we were fueled by love: our common passion for the arts, his love for my late mother, my love for his mother and kids, and the friends we brought together through our collaborations. Pascal was my guardian angel during his earthly journey. He was far from perfect, but he was a good person who had his ups and downs. He failed a few projects, but he always did his best and learned from his mistakes.

I could go on and on about my dear friend Pascal and the many things he taught me during our time together. He was no saint, but he was far from being a bad human being. Now, I take comfort in the thought that he is reunited with other angels who have gone before us. I can almost hear them now, laughing and enjoying their reunion. Pascal, behave up there! Don’t give me a reason to lecture you, as you used to call my mean text era. I love you, brother. Thank you for being the best brother, guide, counselor, solution maker, and uncle to Jade Zuli. You are missed, but we will always cherish the memories we have of you. Sleep easy, my friend.