Ever mourn an internet friend you never met?
I had an internet friend from a chat room type setting. It was during the pandemic, so lots of time chatting with this group of people. The group became kind of tight with lots of humor and inside jokes. We also really shared a lot about our lives. This particular guy said he was divorced with one kid. He was hilarious and witty. We had our own side conversations with a few others from the group. We also DM’d privately. It was never romantic. But, I considered him a friend. He did have a thing with another girl from the group that eventually fizzled. After the pandemic the room slowed down. A good ten of us still chatted a few times a week.
Cut to last year. The girl he had a thing with a few years back found out somehow that not only was he not divorced, he has more than one kid. She only told me and another guy from the group. She messaged him and then he just sorta disappeared. Understandable. I am completely aware that people can live separate lives on the internet. It’s not my place to judge. I missed my friend and decided to google him. No intentions of interrupting his real life. Just curiosity.
Well, I wish I hadn’t. I found out he passed away recently. I have no idea from what. It hit me like a ton of bricks. It’s so weird to feel this sad about an internet friend. ESP since I didn’t even know the real him. I’ve only shared this with the other guy from the group that was close with him too. We have decided not to tell anyone else his secret or about his death.
No advice needed. Just venting my sadness.