KINGS AND QUEENS
May 19, 2026

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Got some sad news this morning about one of my favorite people from my internship.
I don't know if I've mentioned much of this here yet, but despite me technically being a transgender services intern, I have found myself investing time into the LGBTQ seniors program quite a bit, including by dutifully attending the Men's Coffee hour they hold every week. I've met tons of characters in there, and I really enjoy it. I mean, imagine being in a room of gay guys all age 60-90. They're a riot. But one gentleman who I've really gotten to know the most is an 87 year-old "M." M came out late in life, when he was 70, and began a relationship with his partner who sadly died after they had been together 10 years, which was 7 years ago. M has been coming to programming for something like 10 years, when his partner was still with him, and went through that loss within the community. He wears color-coordinated outfits every week and has huge dangling earrings. He's soft spoken and very kind, though he's had a tough last couple weeks because his eyesight deteriorated, making him unable to read, which he valued.
I can imagine you are likely dreading what I am setting up here.
Today is the usual day for Men's Coffee, but I wasn't present as I took 2 days off since my dad is flying in to town and I felt like it was worth having the free time on the week of my birthday. Instead, I got a call from another intern I know well who is actually the intern for the seniors program. They let me know M had a fall, hit his head, and is in a coma. He's not in any pain but they don't think he'll make it past Thursday.
Something that provides a modest amount of solace is that M was ready to go. He had no loose ends, no regrets. He discused it recently with the loss of his eyesight, very explicitly saying "I am ready to go."
One of the other members had said, "But we would miss you, M!"

"Well, I'll see you again, later."

Last week before he left he did what he often did, and smile, give me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Goodbye, M.

Until we meet again,
chase.

EDIT 5/21/2026: The day after I wrote this, May 20th, M passed away.
Strangely, and this probably sounds very woo-woo, but I swear a couple times today, I have experienced the smell I had when I would be hugged by M.
-c