Jane was an avid boxing fan so when she saw someone in the 40s room called "Boxer" she just had to approach him. He had not yet spoken to anyone in the room and seemed reluctant to talk to her in there. She private messaged him and he became a bit more responsive, but very guarded. He informed Jane that he was an amateur boxer who used his boxing to help ease the pressures of life. When asked by Jane what these pressures were, he became quiet again, telling her he didn't wish to burden her with his problems. Jane, however, insisted sensing his need to talk.
Chad turned out to be a father of two grown daughters, husband to a very ill wife, into the research business and a very depressed man at the moment. She learnt that his wife had a very rare lung disease and was waiting on a transplant, but it was getting more and more hopeless as the years went by. She had been on a waiting list for a couple of years and was getting worse as the time progressed. His two daughters, both of whom were in their early twenties, were finding it very difficult to accept, and were not of any help or support to him. He was also having a hard time, having to work and take care of her properly, but his boss allowed him to work at home, and this was a great relief.
He apologised to Jane for spoiling her evening with his gloom, but she assured him that he did not. She had enjoyed meeting him and hearing about his life. Jane added Boxer to her friends' list, much to his surprise, in the hope that they would chat again. From time to time she would see him and they would chat for a bit, with him always saying he was sorry for wasting her time. She assured him it wasn't. Chad was very often in very low spirits but on the odd occasion, he would appear to be quite happy, and at these times, Jane learnt a great deal about him.
She learnt that he was adopted at a very early age, that his adopted Mother was dead but his Father was alive in a different country and that he had travelled a great deal. She also realised that of all the men she spoke with over the net, he was the most intelligent and most educated...... and most depressed. She also learnt that he had been seeing a psychiatrist since his wife was ill.
Jane would often PM Chad and try to cheer him up, but after about five months of this, she noticed some changes. Chad was no longer on regularly and he had told her he had stopped boxing, and hadn't even been to the gym in a while. His wife's condition was deteriorating and the doctors had advised him to prepare for the worst. He had, by this time, lost his job and was beginning to talk about not returning to his visits to the psychiatrist.
He later confessed to Jane that the reason for this was because she, the doctor, had enquired about the cuts on his wrist. He told Jane he didn't think he could handle her death so he tried to take his own life before she left him. He also said that he felt so useless now and that he was really "losing it". Jane had her sister chat with Chad at this point and it seemed to help for a while.
Many online friends had warned Jane that this Boxer was a fake and was only looking for sympathy and was just waiting to 'pounce' but she knew differently. She had even once initiated a "friendly" conversation just to prove the point, and like she had known he would react, he thanked her politely and was the perfect gentleman as always.
He was always apologising to Jane for being so gloomy but Jane assured him that she would always be there for him whenever he needed a friendly ear. She would occasionally send him inspirational poetry, which he loved, always saying they were just the right words he needed to hear at that point in time.
Late on Thanksgiving evening, Boxer pmed Jane and told her that his wife had died earlier that day. Jane felt his pain over the net and wished there was something she could do to ease some of it. He told her she had already provided some comfort just by being his only true friend, the one who stuck with him throughout his long ordeal. Jane promised to be there for him still.
About a week later, Chad again came online and talked and cried and just poured his heart out to Jane. He sent her a copy of the eulogy he had read at the funeral and it had Jane crying too. It was so touching. He once again thanked her for being a true friend. Jane again assured him that she would be around for as long as he needed her to be. He told her that he felt so alone and that his girls were never around now, but that was probably their way of dealing with their Mom's death.
With the Christmas holidays coming up soon, he was a mess. Jane offered to spend some time with him on Christmas Day, and any other day during the holidays, and he gladly accepted her offer. They did talk a bit during the holidays. Then it was his birthday in Mid January and he excitedly told Jane that he had invited a few friends over for lunch and this made Jane so happy for him. Sad to say, he later told her that no one turned up, probably because he was such a bore lately. Jane's heart went out to Chad. In her eyes he was entitled to be that way...he had been through hell and back. She did, at times, think that he was feeling sorry for himself and not making a great enough effort to put the pieces of his life together again.
Anyway, Chad had told Jane about being adopted, but not when he was adopted, so on February 13th when they chatted, he said.. "Well, another special day alone for me..", explaining that this was the day he was adopted and his family had always made it special for him. But he promised Jane to treat tomorrow like any normal day. So it was a happy Jane who listened to an excited Chad on Valentine's evening. He told her he had gotten up feeling very energized that morning, had seen a job advertised at the same hospital where his wife had been, gotten dressed and gone to the interview.
Boxer didn't get that job but it was a new beginning for him. He returned to the gym and started training. Not long after, he had himself a boxing match arranged and he seemed a bit excited about it. Jane saw the occasional smile now on the screen as they spoke and was so happy for him.
Some weeks later, Chad told Jane that he was beginning to slip into a deep depression again and that he was thinking of picking up and going off somewhere for a while. He wanted some time alone to see where his life was heading...
It has been two months now since Jane last saw Boxer online and she can only hope that he is off somewhere "finding" himself and a reason to go on living. Wherever you are, Boxer, may God bless you and keep you safe and give you the strength to fight whatever battles that come your way...

Your Forever Friend, Jenni.

Copyright ... Jenni