***WORDLE*** Why I can't even try it anymore...
This is a very personal story... I'll tell it briefly and as concisely as possible, but I feel like I just need to get this out of me to somebody...
I had a longtime friend, that I've known since 1999... He eventually moved to Malaysia, remained in constant contact.. Via AIM, Facebook, etc... And, we were in touch twice a day via WhatsApp (considering we were on the opposite sides of the planet)... We'd chat during his morning (my nighttime) and night (my morningtime)... We talked bullshit mostly, memes, jokes, TV shows, politics, our fondness for one another, growing older, etc. But, we agreed to play WORDLE every day to compete... This routine happened everyday for almost a year... Until one day... We were in mid joke, said "good night" or "good morning" and then everything stopped... I sent my daily WORDLE score, and waited 12 hours for him to beat me or lose against my score... No response. The next day, I sent my score again. No response... This went on for days. I asked if everything was okay... Every couple of days I could tell he was reading my messages and WORDLE score because WhatsApp indicates when messages were read. I kinda was upholding my end of things without a response... Hoping every day for a reply. The last message that was read was on on my birthday in February... I sent him a picture of my new puppy that I just adopted, told him, how I wished he was okay, and how much I loved him being a part of my life. That message was read... The next day, I sent my WORDLE score, but it was never read. And the following day I did the same, but that, too, was never read. Then again, and again, and again... Never read. Of course, I knew in my heart what had happened.
I sent my scores for two weeks, until some folks started posting tributes to his Facebook page. My friend died. Somehow, some way. I don't know any of his Malaysian friends, and I still don't know any details... There is a language barrier and he had locked down his Facebook for privacy.
So, I lost a very dear friend... A love. The smartest and funniest person in any room. He was only 45. Too young. That's the end of our longtime friendship.
I don't care what anybody says... It's possible to hold and maintain dear and loving friendships online and across great distances. The loss of my friend hits me every day at any time. And, I almost collapse. It just seem like a great loss without closure. And, that's why I can't play WORDLE anymore... Perhaps, one day in the future... with a new friend... Or with my dear Democratic Underground friends.
Thanks for reading... I just needed to write this at some point, and the time was now.
= new reply since forum marked as read
When you're ready, there's a Wordle thread here every day as I'm sure you've noticed. At some point, could be comforting.
Take care of yourself.
I’m sending you hugs targetpractice. 
I am so sorry for your loss and the way you found out. My deepest condolences.
moving story. So glad that you had such a rewarding relationship and sorry it had to end without your having said good-bye. But, since you were so close, I'm betting he thought of you before he left this earth.
Loss hurts terribly. May your friend R.I.P. 
