Despite the obvious anguish you've been through, I just want to congratulate you on being an astounding overcomer. Look what you've accomplished just here in this community! Wow.

Friends are a bit over-rated, in my opinion, though I am fortunate to have my wife, and a brother who I get along pretty well with. I suppose that may put me in a much better position than you, potentially right there. But I have lost friends...guys I thought would be my best friends forever as a teenager have completely slipped out of my life. The girl I thought I would marry one day, left me for one of those guys, and messed me up bad for several years.

But we all learn to cope if we are overcomers, and you DEFINITELY, are one of those. I can tell by the power of your writing. No one who had not found coping mechanisms to bring himself sanity and just enough joy to get by could write like you write.

Maybe you've never considered the one true friend that can give you lasting joy...yes, you probably know where I'm going with this, so I won't preach to you.

Just one verse to ponder though...found in Psalm 18:24:

"A man of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

Be well, friend. This world has LOADS of beauty in it. You've found some, but there's more. Never stop looking and loving and enjoying!

All the best,
Steve