good story - and I am sort of in a similar situation. Separated, but still good friends with my ex. (or again? after some initial hard feelings).
But as you get older, you lose friends .... they pass on. I hate to hear those news ..... like, I never wanted to let my grandparents go. I was very little then, and when I was told, I covered my ears "lalalala" ....... and lately, I do feel the same way. I miss Lena Brauer, for example, calling me and arguing with me - I did enjoy those arguments. There must be something to it that on a snowy-rainy 1st of April, for a brief moment the sun shone onto the grave just as the urn was lowered.