You Are Not Alone

Dear Michael,

I've never written any letter to you, and God knows how dreadful and heartbreaking it is to know that the first letter I ever write you turns out to be also the last one... It had never come across my mind that such a day would come, at least not this soon... I have always had faith in you, and I truly believed that I would see you on stage again, but I guess that has become a distance dream now...

You entered my world when I was 11 years old. I will never forget the sensation and rapture I experienced when I passed through the door of a local record store and heard your music. That was the beginning of my reckoning, and music has become an essential part of my life ever since. Your music inspired me to pursuit a life in music industry; your lyrics urged me to explore further in your language; your dance moves and music videos had a profound influence in my aesthetics and my appreciation of beauty... Words fail me when I attempt to describe how important you are to me, and how you've participated in the shaping of the person I am now.

I was really lucky that I got to see you live in Taipei back in 1993 Dangerous Tour. I was in high school then, so I saved my allowance for quite some time in order to buy the most expensive ticket available. I had quite an argue with the faculty so that I could leave campus in the middle of a class, just to be at the stadium early. It all paid off. I was among the first row, only a few meters away from you. YOU ROCKED. That was the best show I've ever seen, and I doubt there will be anything better in the future.

I had always felt an overwhelming sorrow for you whenever I thought about how troubled your life had been, how tragic you were that despite of the luxurious life you had, you had never once in your life experienced the happiness and completeness of an ordinary person. But it doesn't matter now... You're finally freed from all the mundane torments that had haunted your much troubled life now... All the sorrow and endurance had vanished with your last breath, and what remains only is your sparkling legend, one that will always be remembered until the end of time. Allow me to say good-bye to you for one last time, Michael. You have been my hero and my inspiration, and you always will remain so.

Farewell, Michael... You are not alone.

Love, Reason Hsieh

(Image courtesy of CNN and Getty Images)