#RIPCHESTER

Around two weeks ago, Linkin Park released their carpool karaoke with Ken Jeong on their Facebook page. This brings me back to this old draft I wrote around the desperate time when Chester took his own life. This video also shows us that we might not know if someone has depression. It has no face. One can smile and laugh and also be depressed. So, let’s look around and put more attention to our loved ones if they need help.

The Facebook video:

 

Disclaimer : old draft.

Dear Chester,

Our hearts are broken. The shockwaves of grief and denial are still sweeping through our family as we come to grips with what has happened.

This is the opening message posted by Linkin Park Facebook page, two days after their lead singer, Chester Bennington, passed away. Chester took his own life on July 20, 2017, on what would have been the birthday of his best friend, Chris Cornell, who passed away two months earlier.

Talking with you about the years ahead together, your excitement was infectious. Your absence leaves a void that can never be filled—a boisterous, funny, ambitious, creative, kind, generous voice in the room is missing. We’re trying to remind ourselves that the demons who took you away from us were always part of the deal. After all, it was the way you sang about those demons that made everyone fall in love with you in the first place. You fearlessly put them on display, and in doing so, brought us together and taught us to be more human. You had the biggest heart, and managed to wear it on your sleeve.

Like many of 90s kids, Linkin Park was my ‘voice’, the representation of what I was feeling. Chester’s screaming voice helped me screamed my feelings out to the world. And whenever I was simply confused of what I was feeling, just their music would help me sorted out what I was feeling. So it broke my heart, to know that the very voice that helped me ‘voice’ my feeling gave up.  It broke my heart that he helped me translated what I was feeling to make it dispersed until I feel better, until I become a better person, but he himself didn’t get, didn’t feel better.

Like Linkin Park said in their post, I know that the demon is always part of the deal. But what I never think of is that that very demon would take him away.

So I hope now he feels better, feels free, and released from the demon. And I hope he knows that he helped a generation.

But with all my heart, thank you, Chester, and Linkin Park, for what you have present us through the years. Please know that your music helped me through the days when I’m confused of what I’m feeling.

We always take for granted everything that’s still around us. So let’s not, and take a look around. If anyone around you is depressed, talk to them. If you are thinking about killing yourself, please seek help. All lives matter.

 

Original post by Linkin Park Facebook page :