Joey Badalucco

Forgive, and you will be set free. At the end of the day, it was all a dream.

Sep 29, 2024

You had been through true hell, more than once, yet a wellspring of innocence still lived within you.

Now, you are free. You are on another journey. Peace and Eternal Light be upon your spirit and your path - you deserve your peace, you deserve to be set free.

I haven’t processed this yet and who knows if it’ll ever fully sink in, but I will never forget the first time I met you when I was only 18.

I remember later years when I’d keep a pack of the cigs you liked in my middle console for when I gave you rides to meetings.

I remember the times we sat out in the sun, I remember the times with Mocha, I remember the times we laughed, I remember the times we gave each other hugs and said I love you.

How fortunate that “I love you” was the last thing we said to one another.

I remember the times when I came to your new apartment and against literally every odd you stood with 4 years of sobriety and made strides once unthinkable. You did that.

I remember the shadows of the valleys of death we walked through. I remember you going through things that most could never fathom, and you coming out the other side.

I remember the times that you brought me immense comfort when I felt lonely or was struggling and needed support. I remember the times when you were always there for a fun time, a joy to be around.

I remember you coming over for holidays at my moms house. I remember days filled with hilarity and laughter at rivers and camp sites.

I remember many things of different natures that I was privileged to be present for in your life. And I remember you being there for several chapters in my life; more than most.

This world is often not enough. I know you had many you loved. And I know you had been through so much. I know you were failed on many levels. And I know you were tired, in many ways tortured, and I agree with your final sentiment - you deserve peace.

May you find the peace that you did not exit this world with in the next realm that you are currently navigating.

Never give up Joey. No matter what you face, keep going, if you do not have the peace you seek at this very second, you will have it, keep going - call out to God, call out to your Creator, call out to Love - forget the illusions of the world and the lies it told you. We never really die. We just change form and change realms. I know you were betrayed and hurt - but forgive.

Forgive so you can be set free. Forgive so you can have your peace.

Forgive.

At the end of the day, it was all a dream.

I will keep praying for you my friend. I know I could not save you or help you in enough of a way to lessen your pain. I know things went off the rails here in this realm. Let the faults of this place melt away - then, only what is real will remain. That realness is Love. May you find it now.