Last Letter To My Best Friend.... Poem by Daniel Chapman

We've written each other a lot of letters over the years,
Especially back in our military days—when distance was easier than this.
But this one… this one is the hardest I've ever had to write.
Because if I don't say these words now, the silence will haunt me forever.

The day your Maker called you home caught all of us off guard.
And unless somebody's got a real plan to bring you back,
Please spare me the rumors, the theories, the stories—
None of them change the truth that my brother is gone.

Not long after you passed, your family held a candlelight vigil—jr approved.
You already know how chaotic my life gets,
So yeah… I was late.
Same as always.
But not because I didn't care—
Because some losses are so heavy they slow time itself.

Even though your time here was shorter than it should've been,
You left behind memories strong enough to carry generations.
Your laugh, your presence, your way of making people feel seen—
That's not something death can erase.

I picture you now, ascending to a place better than this world ever was to you,
Welcomed with open arms, laughter, and celebration.
I see you dancing through the pearly gates,
That grin stretched wide as you meet all the greats before you.

My prayers stay with your mother—
No timeline prepares a heart for losing a son.
I hope she finds peace in knowing how deeply you were loved,
And how many lives still echo your name.

I hold tight to our memories, tucked safely away,
And I believe—no, I know—we'll see you again one day.
Because bonds like ours don't end… they just change locations.

It still doesn't feel real saying the president of MPI is gone.
Wow.
And you know I was always the better dancer—
If you disagree, speak up now. I'll wait.

Your impact was massive.
There are people who will forever miss those early-morning calls,
Your unannounced pull-ups at their house like you owned the place.
You were the only man alive bold enough to flirt with my spouse
And somehow still be loved for it.

We talked about everything—plans, dreams, wild "what ifs."
We just never planned for a version of life
Where I'm standing here, writing to you instead of with you.

So rest easy, my brother.
My best friend.
My buddy.

Save me a spot.
I'll see you soon.

MATRIX