I first met David back in June 1997. At the time I had wondered into a chatroom, looking for people to talk to. A guy known in there as Iggy started to talk to me. As you do, I started chatting to him, and soon found out that he was living in London, UK. We talked for several hours, and both asked if we could meet up again for a chat. I don't think either of us really noticed how quickly we grew together. We would chat for hours and hours, and about anything that came to mind. We often tried to cheer each other up if we had had one of those days, the ones you just wanted to escape from. I didn't notice just how close we had become, until he asked if he could have my postal address. I was pretty nervous about giving it out, simply because in the back of my mind I was a little apprehensive. Eventually I agreed and we both said we would write.

I remember I had been working nights at the hospital, and after a busy night had gone home to bed. Next thing I knew my mum was waking me up saying I had some mail to open. Sleepily I opened the letter that had arrived it was from David. I lied in bed and couldn't help but smile as I read it. There was also a friendship band, which he said he had worn for the past 15 years and he wanted me to have it. A couple of days later another small package arrived, it was a cassette from him. This time there was no letter apart from a small piece of paper that just said 'Listen and enjoy, all my love David'. As you can imagine I was intrigued; as I listened to the tape I learnt that he had written a song that his band played, the song was dedicated to me at every gig. I remember crying my eyes out the first time I heard him sing it.

Well the friendship just seemed to keep growing, we started talking on the phone several times a week. Trouble was once we got on the phone it was impossible to get him off of it. I thought I'd get some peace and quiet when he went to visit his grandmother for a week, no such luck. He called me every day, and there were also several postcards. At least I knew he missed me. The time just seemed to fly by, and everything seemed to be going great. In fact it was, except that he started getting really depressed. He finally told me that he has to go to Iraq for work. The hardest part was David telling me he didn't want to go; it was so hard being positive saying everything would be alright, when I also knew what the risks were. That's when I realised just how much he really cared for me. Admittedly I was worried to, but he made arrangements for me to be able to call his PA anytime to check up on him.

He survived the trip, and was soon back home where he belonged. He was very quiet, but I put that down to what he had seen during his time in Iraq. He went home to Paris to see a few of his friends for a while, but he did keep in touch. I guess I did see things changing between us, but I never wanted to get into the fight that we eventually had. I told him we should just be friends for a while, and see how things were later on. I never thought he'd get bitter; but he did, now I can see why since he really did care a great deal about me. We didn't speak for months, but I thought one day we'd be friends again. I still called him and left messages for him, but no reply. I think that is why all this hurt so much. David was a wonderful guy, with a cracking sense of humour and a heart of gold.

I never expected the letter I received in the post back in June, but as soon as I saw that it was from David's parents I knew it was bad news. The letter simply stated that sadly David had died whilst on holiday in Paris, visiting friends. This shattered me, I had lost a good friend and more importantly hadn't had the chance to say I was sorry. I called David's mum and dad and they told me he had had a bad asthma attack, which then caused him to die from a heart attack. He was only 30 years old. I still find it hard to talk about David, but I felt this would be a suitable way of letting people remember him. For one if it wasn't for the internet I would never of met him.

"David this page is in memory of you. There are so many things I wish I could tell you now, but I know they are locked away inside me. I miss our chats that we used to have both on line and on the phone. I miss hearing you laugh and crack the not so funny jokes that used to end up being hysterically funny. I even miss hearing Abi meow when you'd forget about her when we were talking. In the end I am left with the memories of the times we shared together, and I will always treasure the many cards, small gifts and tapes you sent me. I miss you heaps, but I hope now that you are at peace. Until we meet again, sleep well my friend."

This page is in memory and dedication to David Stafford, a dear friend who died June 7^th 1998.

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