I met Jay Kovitch many years ago at a
comic book shop where we initially bonded over superheroes,
role-playing games, and action movies. He was two years older than
me, so it was incredibly cool to have a friend who could drive. He
went to college first and was always helpful with advice when it was
my turn.
As we grew older, our interests
changed, and though we drifted apart now and then, we never lost
contact. Months might pass between calls, but we always stayed in
touch and when we did talk, we talked for hours.
Once we grew up, most of our friendship
took place over vast distances. He was around twenty when he joined
the Navy and by the time he returned, it wasn't long before I moved
to Los Angeles.
Jay and I had our differences. We
didn't like much of the same music. He followed sports and I didn't.
He loved to debate, often taking the opposing side just for the sake
of arguing. He was stubborn and though he didn't drink often, when
he did, he would drink too much.
Even though he was an old friend and I
knew for certain that I would know him throughout my entire life,
because he could be terribly difficult and argumentative and there
were some things that I really didn't like about some of his personal
philosophy, because of this, I didn't always think of him as a close
friend. I was wrong. Terribly wrong.
Jay was killed four years ago today by
a hit and run driver. I realize now that a part of me died with him.
We had so many shared memories of growing up together and now half
of those memories are gone. I miss him every day. Sometimes, to
ease the pain, I write about him. It doesn't help, but I know he
would have liked it.
June 6, 2010
Warm summer night
Just about to rain
He staggered from the bar
Where he drowned out his pain.
Reckless speeding driver
Wasn't looking out
Knocked him back so hard
He didn't even shout.
Body in a ditch
Dead where he dropped
Blood mixed with rain
Driver never stopped.
Police woke his mom
She thought her son in bed.
If he came home earlier
How could he be dead?
A week later at the funeral
Friends and family did flock
All gathered in disbelief
Still reeling from the shock.
Years later I miss him
He was like my brother
There was no one like him
There will never be another.
Now that he's gone
Countless tears I shed
I didn't know I loved him
Until after he was dead.
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