It has been two weeks since your departure. Hope you have all settled down in your new life. This old world you left behind is still in deep sorrow by the loss of you and so was everyone ever loved you.
I found the tickets of the musical Amin & I saw on his 30th birthday (though I only learned it was his birthday later) and the song I mention in my note that he so loved. The medallions were brought back from my trip to Europe. I got two set of them from the Notre Dame de Paris and sent one set to Amin as a gift which should be in his possession. When he received them he sent me this picture and expressed his appreciation.
My dearest Amin, I feel so blessed to have shared a part of your journey in this world. Every time I close my eyes I still see your face and shining smile and hear your cheering voice and infectious laughter.
My dearest Amin, we came from profoundly different cultures and beliefs. You always mentioned how differently we saw the world. I was constantly enlightened by your thoughts, the way you analyze things and the best qualities you saw in people. I did not understand you well when we were together and always felt that you were so different from anyone I ever know in this world. Your utmost integrity, honesty, purity, the way you taking care of yourself and caring for your family and friends. You mentioned once that you were in bad mood because of “Injustices that I see, ignorance, feeling like maybe I’ve made some bad decisions, uncertainties about the future, the need/desire to do something meaningful during my life”. Another Monday morning, you told me that when you were eating alone the other night you met a couple with their three-year-old daughter having dinner and chatting. They looked really bonding, united and satisfied and that made you felt so happy. Now I so believe that you were an angle sent by God to shed lights and happiness to us and purify our souls. I was so touched by you and you made a difference in my life like you did with many others.
My Dearest Mr. A, I remembered one night we were at a Starbucks near People’s Square and you asked me to read out the commencement speech by Steve Jobs. And there was this one part in it that you said you loved so much and asked me to read three times.
“No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true. Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
— Steve Jobs
This was how you lived your life every day, always followed your heart and intuition and was so clear what you truly want to become.
My dearest Amin, when I sent you the piece of music “Belle” from the musical “Notre Dame de Paris” that we went to see on your birthday, you said you loved it and “If I die soon, please play this at my funeral.” My heart aches when thinking of this. This is a song about Esmeralda, a beautiful and innocent soul in a dark age where she did not belong to. She was the symbol of love and purity and so were you.
My Dearest Mr. A, you tried to make me understand that “Life is a process of growth. Growth requires overcoming challenges and that may often be painful.” But it was so sad that I have to learn this at the cost of losing you. I read from your Bahá’í friends that you have gone to the spiritual world to keep developing your soul. So now it’s my turn to grow however painful it is.
My dearest Amin, goodbye. May your soul rest in peace.
With all my heart and love,
Yun Sheng