Grief is something I’m been starting to experience for the first time recently.
I say this loosely. I did not grieve fully when the cat I grew up with had to be put down. I did not grieve fully when Unus Annus was deleted. There’s been some death in my family this year, but as I wasn’t close with the members that passed away, only talking for a handful of occasions, I did not grieve them fully.
I acknowledged that these things ended, that I would not spend time with them any longer. I came to terms with that quickly.
When Technoblade’s video was posted, I was one of the first ones to watch it. Or at least that’s what my YouTube showed me. 3 views, 5 likes, 1 comment that didn’t show. I had believed that it was a video of him announcing he’s quitting YouTube, which I will admit to having anxiety over.
In a way I suppose I was right.
I’ve only been part of his subscribers for a couple years. I still remember that the first thing that drew to the DSMP as a whole was a fanart from when Ghostbur shows him Friend in the middle of his execution. Since then, I’ve watched every video that I could. I still haven’t watched them all; I will get there eventually.
I’ve laughed.
I’ve cried.
I’ve been happy every minute of his videos.
He helped me remember my love of Greek Mythology. He helped me remember why I love writing. He helped me discover what type of humor I like, and helped define the humor I use now. He helped me connect to so many nice people, think of ideas and words and prose and dialogue I didn’t know I had the ability to write. He helped me remember to live, to put myself out there and try to connect despite my anxiety, to believe in myself and stay true to my skills.
He will forever be a youtuber I remember. He will forever stay in my heart and help cheer myself on when things get tough again. He will forever be inspiration for my art, writing and the person I become.
Thank you from the deepest part of myself, Technoblade, for being you.