Goodbye Luke McManus: my brother, my best mate forever loved

My dearest friend,

I find it difficult to accept that you have gone away. From the moment we met, we hit it off and would talk for hours and hours, and then talk some more. You didn't have anywhere near the amount of tattoos. Your uniform was black, and I'm sure you loved that. You had raven-black dyed long hair and looked as cool as could be. We were young men then, our lives mostly ahead of us.

I remember you gave me your email address and after I had left, I contacted you and we started meeting up outside of work. I still vividly remember pressing the send button. We hadn't known each other that long, but I know we were meant to be friends.

Because of you, I worked briefly as a guard, pulling the night shifts and you were doing the same. We'd call each other and basically talk as long as we could, keeping each other company. Even when I wasn't working nights, I'd still stay on the phone with you. I remember we watched a B-grade movie called "Siege at Ruby Ridge" and we were in hysterical laughter at parts of it. We would talk about that night, as it turned out, for two decades later, along with all the characters we met.

Your love of music was broad, ranging from mainstream pop to extreme Swedish death metal. While we both shared a love of music, I think it's safe to say you were always a lot more extreme in your tastes. I remember we went and saw Mayhem together, and you were in your element. We would go walking together a lot. You grew up in such a beautiful place in Kallista and you wanted to show me. We would do the track at Grants Picnic Grounds so often. There is a beautiful clearing deep into the track. You had the eye of an artist and a flair for dark poetry and humour. You called it "The Bleeding Fields." The name suited so well we referred to it as that for years after. We would go for a walk on the track near Poets Lane. You would talk about the beauty of the place, and we both wouldn't shut up. Before I had children, we would go to a beautiful place in Olinda, behind the Rhododendron Gardens. We must have done that walk at least 30 times or so.

It's impossible for me to write or even remember all the great moments we had together. All I can do is imagine somehow that you were able to read this. And this is what I would tell you.

Luke, thank you, brother, for everything you were. For being there with me through the highs and lows. You were a huge mountain of a man with a formidable presence and a heart of gold. You treasured the simple things in life and were loyal to those that you let into your world. There were only a few of us, and I'm blessed to have been one.

Luke, I will never forget the last time we met, and when I departed you gave me a big hug and said, "I love you, man." And I told you I loved you too. They were your last words to me.

You have gone from this world, my brother, and you know I have my beliefs. I believe that one day we will meet again in a place beyond the veil. I will probably think about you every day for the rest of my life, my Luke. You were my best friend, and I will miss you beyond what words can describe.

Goodbye, my dearest friend, Luke McManus.