This day in late December is special to me and to everyone who knows you, dear Sajjad. But I know it doesn’t hold the same meaning for you, and maybe it even feels like a curse. I understand.

For ten years, I've had you by my side...through the silence and the storms, through loss and the passing of the people most dear to us, and moments of agony. You’ve been there for me, even when everything else felt like it was falling apart. I’ve felt the weight you carry, the losses you’ve endured things most wouldn’t survive. You never ask for help, even when you need it. You carry pain like it belongs only to you.

You’re not like others. Your mind cuts through the world, seeing things as they are, not as people wish. It’s not just intelligence, but a clarity most can’t handle. The thoughts you hold stay locked inside, but I know they’re there. You stand apart, not because you want to, but because that’s how it’s always been.

People still come closer, even when you pull away. Maybe they sense something, your quiet, your weight. I don’t know if you realize how much your presence means.

I’m not writing this to acknowledge the day, but because I’ve stood beside you through silence and scars, and I’ll stand there still. Even if today feels hollow, I want you to know you matter to me. I’ve learned more from you than I can explain, and though we’re separated by miles, I still find myself reaching for you. You’re the only one who understands things no one else ever could.