Farewell Hiroki

I found out today that good friend and talented artist, Hiroki, decided to make his own way into the next world two days ago. The news shook me up and left me dazed. I met him about a year ago, but we didn’t really get close until meeting again a few months ago. At that time, it seemed we were both depressed, he was on anti-depressants, but was trying to wean himself off of them. I think he was terrified of the future, we both were actually, and talked it over. We related through the depression and were beginning to support and encourage each other that way. A few weeks ago, it seemed that he lapsed back into severe depression. He mentioned one day that on the way over, while sitting on the subway, he began to cry out of despair, but then he came out of it.

Fear of the future … despair at the present … regrets for the past — they all make for a slippery slope when you’re trying to pull yourself out of the slick drop of depression.

He mentioned that hanging out with me was ruining his Chinese, but he did make some effort to teach me and correct me.

Anyway, here are a couple links to some of his amazing artwork, a lot of it done while he was low:

http://www.twdesign.net/design/viewtopic.php?t=22604&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

http://www.heyshow.com/browsing/users.asp?id=1414

http://twdesign.net/design/viewtopic.php?t=22368

Wherever he is, or isn’t … rest in peace, Hiroki.