It's funny how when they first go, every thing is so vivid. Your mind can recall so clearly their face, their eyes, their sounds, smells, touches, warmth. You remember it so clearly that it seems like he was there just a second ago. It's agonizing. It hurts like hell. You almost wish you could forget as if the forgetting will make it hurt less.

Later on, however, those memories fade. What takes root are the photographs. The photos become the memories. The frozen frames. The experiences of stubbly skin, warmth and kisses, fade from the mind. You can no longer recall it like it just happened a moment ago. And in that time, it is terrifying. You are afraid that they're being erased too quickly and too easily. You are terrified that they'll die and you'll only be left with pictures.

Dead. It's a final, ugly, agonizing, four letter word. 

I know that you'll come home. One way or another your body will come back here to this place where I am.