Many moons ago whilst I was doing stuff on my island in Second Life, I met this guy – an artist – looking around the island for a gallery space. We chatted and I showed him around…. He moved in.

Many moons passed (and if you go by SecondLife day cycle, which is every four hours, THATS a lot of moons later ) and many moons later, we got to know each other better, we grew and became friends – good friends. We talked – about our lives, our dreams, art, music, the world, about things that mattered. We laughed, and most of all we shared. SecondLife is the medium, a means of communication, the bridge that brought us together. Though in the real physical world we both live in different parts of the world, through SecondLife we got to know each other and our friendship grew.

Mister Artist cared about the world. He was passionate about the state we are in. About humanity. He wrote music about love, of love. He chanted about peace. He painted canvases that weaved these intricacies.

It was through Mister Artist that I met the lovely Madam K (not long after Mister Artist and I met). We became friends – Three very individual personalities, yet each a vital cog in the wheel….. ok, maybe we don’t exactly run smoothly at times, and the wheel needs massive oiling, yada yada yada …. but we were there, as a unit, providing support for each other – sharing, creating, loving, caring, supporting.

About three weeks ago or so, things were kinda *shitty* for me – We’re talking MAJOR shitty here. Not just the I’ve-Just-Stepped-On-Shite-Whilst-Wearing-My-Best-Jimmy-Choos shitty, BUT MAJOR MAJOR shitty!!! Issues with life – HomeLife, WorkLife, SecondLife… all meshed together into one big GIGANTIC pile of shite!!!

Point is – Wardi was an emotional wreck. Yup!! C’est moi.

Whilst surfing the giant rollercoaster emotional waves, I decided to leave SecondLife (on hindsight, perhaps an indefinite leave of absent would be a better choice of words). So, I went in-world, called upon my two closest friends – Mister Artist and Madam K, and told them the news; That I am planning to leave SecondLife.

It didn’t go at all well.. it went horribly wrong. Mister Artist grew extremely angry and agitated, and left without even giving me a chance to explain – Why I had made such a decision, or what I had in mind, or planned. Madam K left shortly afterwards. I understand why they were angry, and perhaps found my news rather unsettling. I thought they are my closest friends – at least they could have given me the chance to explain and hear me out.

Anyway, the next day, I sent notecards and IMs to both Madam K and Mister Artist, hoping that we could all meet and talk. Madam K and I met up, and we had a very long talk………… Mister Artist, on the other hand, was still angry with me and refused to see/chat/have-anything-to-do with me (dismantling his recent art project from his gallery on the island, changing/reverting the land parcel of his gallery, and even deleting any references to the island/comments-I’ve-Made on his personal forum – all these on the very next day.).

People get angry. We are, afterall, only humans. We react and deal with situations differently and as best as we can. SecondLife may be a virtual metaverse, but the emotions and the friendships that I have build – for Mister Artist and Madam K – are real………….

It’s been two weeks now. I hardly go in-world these days, and if I do it’s just to clear IMs and what-nots. The island is still there – Nothing has changed much. Madam K is still on the island, and we talk when we happen to both be in-world. I still have not heard from Mister Artist.

My grandmother once said to me (God bless her soul in heaven): “Wardi, it takes time. And time, my child, heals all wounds.”

I love you Tony, and I miss you my friend.