But I had a few reasons.
First, my best friend was diagnosed with cancer. She had never told me that she had cancer in her childhood, so I never dreamed it could ever happen to her. Well, it came back, and I'm kind of lost right now. I have to be there for her and make her strong.

I've put my feelings into two poems that I wrote. One is from her perspective and the other is mine. I know that you guys might not understand completely, but this has really made me grow up.

All my life I'd been exposed to the sad stories about cancer, and of course I thought it was a sad sad thing. I always tried to empathize with the people it had touched, because to empathize is to understand, and to understand is to give condolence. I never ever dreamed that this is what it would actually feel like, and I bet it's that way for a lot of people.

It's sad and awful, but when it comes into your life it's not just sad and awful anymore. It's absolute despair.

I wish you all a good healthy and happy life, but I can't be around much anymore. I don't think I can return from COTC. Please try to selflessly understand. I've grown up.

Maybe I'll stop by, but I know that I won't ever be the same. I love you.