Alps was the first person I met online. My first friend. We met when I finally decided to check out whatever "IRC CHAT" was, on the old furnation.com website. His name was the first on the list of people in the room and he was the first person to talk to me. All he said was "Hi There!". Two words that changed my life.

I was 19 years old when we met and I was a mess. I was sad and lonely and lost. But there was something about me he liked. Our personalities and sense of humor clicked together immediately. We spent the next 27 years laughing and goofing off together. He watched me grow from a stupid irresponsible girl into a sort-of stupid, semi-responsible woman with some semblance of stability and happiness in her life.

He was there to soften all the hardest hits that life had to throw at me. When my parents died, he was the one that held me together. He carried me when I couldn't walk and he held my hand once I was able to get back on my feet, making sure I wouldn't stumble.

He was the one who gave me the push I needed to pursue love and happiness. It's largely because of him cheering me on that I'm with my girlfriend of 20 years, now.

Every step of the way he had my hand, pulling me gently along, making sure I never stopped walking. He brought me to Furnet. He brought me to Tapestries and built a home for us there. He always made sure I was included, if I wanted to be.

He was a bright light. A happy and friendly person who was willing to talk to anyone and make friends with everyone. He was generous and loving and encouraging to all.

We watched movies, played games, listened to music and wrote stories together. Almost every day, for 27 years. I knew him for more than half of my life. 27 years, and it wasn't long enough. I would do almost anything for one more day.

He was my very best friend. My soulmate.

There will not be a single day that goes by where I don't miss him.

-Xshinarai  sarsis