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My name is Paul Drigotouma and a few years ago

at the start of COVID, a close friend died.

Somebody I'd known since I was 11.

And there was the first year really

which was the shock of grief and the sadness

and getting used to him not being around.

And I know not every grief is the same.

But one of the things about certain griefs

is that there can be gratitude on the other side of it.

Gratitude for having known this friend

and loved him and been loved by him.

A couple of weeks ago on his anniversary,

the second anniversary of his death,

...