I said goodbye to Billy

I was living in federal housing, and I met Billy through Fred, my partner who recently passed away.  Billy was excellent with music and photography, but he suffered from schizophrenia. He and I had an unspoken agreement that he would not drink or smoke marijuana when I was taking guitar lessons. He only forgot once.

He had me download a metronome on my phone. He loved purchasing guitars and had a music program on his computer.

Billy told me how he had an agreement with his mom that if he quit drinking and took care of himself, she would give him her Chevy Malibu.

He had long hair and a great personality, but his demons got the better of him. We would practice guitar for one hour. He was trying to teach me Tom Petty's song, "You don't know how it feels." Tom Petty - You Don't Know How It Feels [Official Music Video]

I never mastered this song, but I had fun learning. He seemed to get lost in Petty's lyrics. I played some songs for him that I had written and sang. We probably had lessons for six months. Billy was absorbed in drinking though he was told it would kill him.

One day, I believe it was a Sunday, a lady came to the front door and said she couldn't get ahold of her brother, which was unusual she said. I stayed by the door while she went upstairs. Minutes later, she came running down the stairs and said, "He's dead, He's dead." She didn't have her phone, so I let her use mine. She wanted to call her mom, but my own experience calling my aunt first when my roommate died, I told her, "I think you want to call the police first. By this time, we were both in Billy's room. He was blue and had no pulse. His veins were projecting from his face, and he was facing the couch cushion. The 911 operator was asking if I wanted to perform CPR. I told her, "No," two or three times. It was obvious he was gone.

Later, I bought a card, which some of the residents signed. I was glad to be able to give it to his sister. I found a part of me was dying in that building as there was so much sadness, poverty and loneliness around.  

My aunt set me up with a special needs trust, so I was able to get a condominium. I don't ever want to forget the friends I made, but being in my own place is healthier.