Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to say farewell to a dearly departed Friendship. Its light shone brightly for a short time and then in a flash was gone, leaving behind the One and the Other. It is not for us to question its death, but to celebrate its life. Let us remember the joys, move past the sorrows. Let us give thanks for the smiles and release the tears. It is often said that friends come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime. Let us acknowledge the reason, reminisce on the season and carry the memory of the Friendship for the rest of our lifetime. I now call upon the One to speak on behalf of herself and the Other.

The Friendship came upon us without warning, and we welcomed it with open arms and hearts. It crawled hesitantly at first, and we watched it grow in strength and confidence. As it matured, it carried us as we once carried it. It sheltered us from the harshness of the world, as we once protected it. It drew us together as we had drawn on each other in the beginning. Through the Friendship we learnt about ourselves, realized our strengths and weaknesses, revealed our hopes and fears, shared our delights and regrets. Through the Friendship, we both became stronger, better people. Through the Friendship, we were each able to understand our direction and purpose in life.

And then, after it had done all of that for us, we learnt one final lesson as the Friendship sacrificed its life for our sake. Gathering all of its strength it tried to protect us from the impending realities. But soon it was too much and we had to watch as the Friendship we had nurtured from birth threw itself over us and gave its life so that the lives of us, the One and the Other, might go on as destined. And so without the Friendship, we now go our separate ways, to follow our own distinct paths alone, without each other and without our Friendship. Death of Friendship need not be the death of hope, and so I know that the Friendship will continue to live on in our hearts. Our memories of the Friendship will be with us always.

And so my friends, I call upon you, as you are gathered here to lend your support to the One and the Other, who have lost more than their Friendship, but have gained more than they will ever know through having shared that Friendship. Help them to get past the pain of their loss. Help them to move past the loneliness they now face. You will never replace their Friendship but you can be their Friend as a new season begins.