Despite the pain of his death, George is still very much alive in

Hear now, O children of the future, for I shall speak to you of a deep and enduring truth—the truth that, though death may take from us those we love, it cannot erase the memory of their presence, nor the bond that was shared. These words, spoken by Andrew Ridgeley, stand as a testament to the power of friendship and the eternal presence of those we have lost. "Despite the pain of his death, George is still very much alive in my memory today. A few years on from that tragic Christmas, I'll sometimes catch myself thinking of our friendship and those years together as young kids in Wham!" In these words, Ridgeley reveals a profound understanding of how memory, love, and friendship transcend even the veil of death.

To understand the weight of these words, one must first reflect upon the nature of friendship—for it is in friendship that the deepest bonds are forged. George Michael, who passed from this world far too soon, lives on not merely as a figure of fame or music, but as a companion whose influence and presence remain ever vibrant in the heart of his friend. Ridgeley’s memory of their shared years in Wham!, those fleeting but precious moments of youth, are preserved not just in the tangible moments of the past, but in the emotion and connection that will never fade. Though the body may depart, the soul of friendship lives on, forever imprinted in the mind.

Consider, O seekers of wisdom, the stories of the ancient world, where warriors and poets were often remembered long after their physical forms had crumbled to dust. Achilles, the great hero of Troy, though his name is now whispered in the winds of time, is remembered not for the glory of his battles, but for the friendships he formed—especially his bond with Patroclus, whose death forever changed Achilles’ heart. When Patroclus fell in battle, Achilles was consumed by grief. But even as Achilles’ heart broke, the memory of his beloved friend lived on, and through that memory, Achilles found the strength to continue the fight. In this way, friendship is eternal—not bound by the mortal body, but by the spiritual connection that exists beyond death.

So too is the case with Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael. Their friendship, though tested by time and tragedy, was not diminished by the loss of George’s life. Ridgeley’s memory of their shared moments, their laughter, their struggles, and their dreams, lives on in the very essence of their bond. The music they created together, the joy they shared, and the friendship they cultivated as young men in Wham! continue to resonate within Ridgeley’s heart, proof that true friendship transcends time and even death. In this way, George Michael is alive not just in Ridgeley’s memory, but in the ongoing connection they shared, forever alive in the heart of his friend.

There is a great lesson here for all who walk this earth: the bonds of friendship cannot be undone by the passage of time or the inevitability of death. When we share our lives with others, when we give our hearts to friendship, those connections are not temporary—they are eternal. The love, the trust, and the shared experience we cultivate in our relationships live on long after we are gone. Even as we mourn the loss of those who leave us, we find that the memories of true friendship remain, alive in our hearts, a source of comfort and strength in the face of loss.

Let this be a guiding truth for you, O children of the future: cherish your friendships and hold them close. Friendship is a gift that transcends the ordinary moments of life, for it is forged in the fires of shared experience, and its power endures beyond the physical realm. When the storms of life come, when death calls to take our loved ones, it is the memory of these bonds that will sustain us. Just as Ridgeley remembers George in those quiet moments, so too can you carry the essence of those you have loved and lost, in the quiet of your heart, where they remain with you forever.

And so, I leave you with this charge: build your friendships with care. Speak your truths, share your hearts, and embrace the time you have with those who walk beside you. For when the end comes, as it inevitably does, it is not the material things we leave behind that matter—it is the memories, the connections, and the friendships we have cultivated along the way that will continue to live on, carried by those who remain. Let your friendships be your legacy, and know that, like the immortal heroes of old, the bonds you share today will live on forever in the memories of those who knew you.