Goodbye, Chester
Hi Chester,
You don’t know me. And to be honest, I don’t know you. But…you and Linkin Park changed my life in more ways than one.
To be honest, how would you know me? I was just a 10-year-old living in Nigeria who had discovered Linkin Park. I had just begun to appreciate Rock music and all its tenets. My dad. My dad was already a Rock + Heavy Metal fan. But my brother and I discovered you and Mike and we shared it with our dad, it was the first real bonding experience I shared with the men in my life and I have you to thank.
Depression is cold. I know because I’ve been there and everyday I wonder if I’m slipping back or not. But just knowing all the feelings you must have gone through before deciding to end it all. God. I know. And my heart hurts. I’m sitting in my room at 1am in the morning listening to all the songs you were a part of that changed my life. Numb, From The Inside, Somewhere I Belong, Shadow of the Day, Breaking The Habit, Leave Out All The Rest. These songs brought me closer to some of my best friends (hi Amyodeh and Kryspoo) we bonded over these songs and the Meteora album over 10 years ago and we are still friends today and, in many ways, we have you to thank. It just sucks that we couldn’t thank you earlier.
This is the first time a ‘celebrity’s’ death feels real to me. And it sucks. The outpour of love over this is proof that you mattered and there was a strong ass wall of love for you out here. We are all now re-living high school and it isn’t so bad. We all made it through thanks to the music you were a part of. ALL your songs made us feel less alone and I apologise that we couldn’t give this back to you. From The Inside made me appreciate screamo SO MUCH MORE than I could have imagined and it’s you I have to thank. So thank you. I’m sorry this is so late.
Depression sucks. And I apologise. I’m sorry we couldn’t help and I hope you’re at peace. Thank you Chester Bennington. Rest In Peace, Power, Love and Light.
When my time comes;
Forget the wrong that I’ve done;
Help me leave behind some;
Reasons to be missed;
And don’t resent me;
And when you’re feeling empty;
Keep me in your memory;
Leave out all the rest.
Everyone is having a Linkin Park marathon on Youtube right now and we have you, in a bittersweet way, to thank. So thank you for bringing us together once again.
