Fare thee well my bright star

(Fred Gobin, Aaliyah Parcs, Jean Marc and me - Manila Trip 2001)

I met Jean Marc in the summer of 1996. He came up to me asking for the address of a good techno bar, this was after he asked me to play a song (I was spinning some records for the bar) that was sang by Whitney Houston. Naturally, I looked at him like he had an extra head on top of his shoulders. He asked me out on a date and I refused. He asked me everyday for a week until I figured, if I say yes, he'll probably leave me alone.

Our first date was a disaster. I got too drunk and he held my hair back as I puked in his bathroom. I thought that would be the last I would see him. I was wrong... We dated some more and then some more until it was a year into the "dating".

I remember he almost beat up this other French dude who thought I was a prostitute. I thought we were going to get banned in Giraffe (Yes children, that's how old I am. I used to go to a hot bar called Giraffe)

I remember we had dinner at Streetlife (Again, yes...that's how old I am, now shut it) and he looked at me and said "You don't talk much..." I laughed and responded that I actually do but I found no reason to blabber on about mundane things. He said he wanted to hear me talk, to hear my thoughts and opinions about life. Nobody asked me that before. He told me that he'd love to see Paris through my eyes. I think it was then that he captured me.

Our romantic relationship was tumultuous and it ended...three times to be exact. (We tried to make it work but it seems we're better off as best friends) but our friendship was strong and it withstood a divorce (from him), a pending annulment (from me), a lot of work issues, dating other people drama, deaths and lives.

He took care of me - as that is how he was built. He took care of everyone even if he needed to be looked after as well. He would sacrifice his own needs and wants to take care of yours. To him, you are important and he will make sure you know it and feel it.

He was full of life! You can't help but love life when you were around him. It didn't matter that you had the shittiest day in the entire history of shitty days. He would make you laugh and see life from a better perspective. He always believed in silver linings.

He was a wonderful wonderful man. I miss him so much...

Jean Marc, wherever you are, I promise I won't forget all the things you've taught me and I promise to be all the things you wanted me to be: A strong woman; someone who will always know and demand her worth. I will never forget, ever...I promise.