Internet Tragedy

I have a buddy online who I have known for over six years. When we started chatting he was completely closeted and over the six years he grew a lot, eventually met another closeted guy and they began to date. We would chat on msn. He was a very sexual person who was really growing into a mature gay relationship. Recently I noticed he wasn't online so I emailed him to see what is going on - I even emailed his bf. Yesterday I got an email from his bf which said:

"I have not been online for sometime. I suspect the same is true of Adam. We are no longer together. It is a long sordid story and probably Adam should tell it. I am struggling with my feelings. I still love Adam, but i guess i knew from the beginning it would not last, and I am the fool for thinking it would. I will tell you this much; Adam has been outed and he has run for cover. I am grateful that I have not been outed (at least not to my family) but i can see the day coming when I will tell them."

I don't know the details but what I suspect is that being out was too much and they broke off contact. This makes me sad for a number of reasons. First, I consider this guy a friend and my heart goes out to him. As a friend I wish I could help. I am sure he is lonely, isolated and scared. I have no idea how to get a hold of him or offer support I don't even know his last name. Two months ago I found out his father died in freak accident - I couldn't send a condolence card - because once again I didn't know his last name or address.

This is such a freakish world we live in because people we care about are mere ghosts. They can vanish and don't exist.

I would like to write more about the tragedy of love that is lost, but wanted to vent about how people can vanish in our internet world.