Vale

The internet is a strange place. I have friends whose faces and real names I've never seen or only seen or heard once or twice. They're scattered throughout the world and we are friends only because we love to talk to each other. A friend in Cannes just told me that another friend of mine in a small town in Holland died today. It wasn't unexpected; for as long as I've known her she spoke about her heart condition and how she didn't expect to live very long. Still, we tell ourselves that things will work out, that our friends will reappear, given another reprieve by 21st century medicine, no matter that it's still so hit and miss. This time it didn't work out that way. Her name was Paula but I knew her as Izzy and she was one of the people in my life that made me realise how fortunate I really am.

Goodbye Izzy. My world is a little smaller without you.