The Dark Side of Introversion and other stories.

Dear Christopher,

If the circumstances were different, this could have been a love letter, cause I really had a crush on you. But the truth is, I never really knew you. No one did. You made it so.

No one tried to approach you because you were always so silent, so reserved, so distant. You were the earliest to arrive in the classroom, in an attempt to avoid meeting others on your way, and you always kept to your usual seating position at the back of the class, where no one would pay any attention to you. You never joined in group conversations or participated in any group activities. We hardly noticed your presence, and most times, we only remembered you existed when a lecturer called out your name.

You were the very definition of an Introvert. An asocial being. For so many years, you kept yourself invisible from the world around you, and funny to say, you were really good at it.

If Samson never asked "Where's that quiet guy?", none of us could have ever known, that you were no longer with us.

I began to notice your continuous absence, so I decided to pay a visit to your home, to find out why you've been missing from school for two weeks straight, and only then, did I find out the shocking truth.

For so many years, you carried such a heavy burden. The burden of being diagnosed with an evil, incurable, terminal disease. and you bore it all alone, till you could bear it no more.

I told the other classmates about your passing, but none of them showed much sympathy. None of them even cared. I don't blame them. It's hard to show concern for someone you never really knew.

With that thought my heart broke, cause in that moment I realized, that you never had any friends. Not even one.

Why wouldn't you? Why couldn't you? Why didn't you try to make at least one friend? Why on Earth would you keep such a terrible burden to yourself?

You knew for a very long time, that you were going to die, but why would you want to die alone, knowing that nobody will miss you?

Were you afraid that people won't stay friends with you cause of your illness, or were you just trying to protect the rest of us from the burden of grief?

I asked myself these questions for days, most nights losing sleep, but I guess I'm never going to come up with a credible answer, because I never knew you.

And sadly, I regret it.

I could have said Hi, or even waved at you, each time you silently passed by me. I never did, and now I regret it. Perhaps we could have been friends. Perhaps I could have given you some good memories to cherish in the great beyond. But all I did, was watch the other kids bully you, call you names, make fun of you, and I never tried to stop it. Not even once.

The guilt I feel right now chokes me, and my conscience keeps haunting me everyday. I knew I had to do something. So I am writing this letter, not just because I feel guilty, but because I hope, that you'll be at peace wherever you are, knowing that one person, other than your mom, truly cares about you. I miss you, and if I could be given the chance, I'll spend the rest of my days, with you.

Don't be so quiet and reserved in heaven, because I'm sure the angels might get bored and kick you out. : )

Till we meet again. Farewell, dear friend.

Yours sincerely,

Winnie.