How often we have heard the phrase "Life is short" tossed about, yet it is only when someone close to our heart dies that we appreciate that life really is, as the poet wrote,

" a fleeting shadow." Are you really gone, our brilliant, precious and wonderful brother? Because, Telahun, when we close our eyes we still see your face, we hear that big laugh, we feel your warm, tender embrace. How can we sum up the years we had with you? What words will ever adequately convey our ocean of love, our undying gratitude for all that you have done for us, and our immense pride for having had someone like you as our brother?

On January 19, 2002, at 8 p.m., Athens time, it was two years since you left this life. This life which you embraced with joy, living each day to its fullest. You never let this world's complexities and horrors defeat you, even when at a very tender age death robbed you of those you loved best. Instead, with a wisdom and resilience far beyond your years, you patiently struggled to overcome, and to survive, the impossible.

What of your love and protectiveness to all those who belonged to you? You loved and provided openhandedly and lavishly for your family, and accumulated for their future with all your might and capacity. As for us - you were our world when we were very young, and we looked up to you as we grew up into adulthood. You cared for us and looked after us like a mother, even when you were a tiny fledgling of a boy, barely able to look after yourself, let alone others. As far back as we could remember, however much you did for us, you never thought it was enough. You were our protector.

Even after we were grown up, and in fact until the day you died, you continued to worry about us. We know of your great love for us. We felt it and relied on it until your last day. You loved your family, you loved your sisters, you loved people, and you loved life. You disregarded the bad and tried to find something good in everybody. You were able to forgive and move on even when people caused you indescribable hurt. You were sympathetic and kind-hearted. You never ceased to amaze us. In short, you were love and generosity itself.

Your life was about giving. You always seemed to understand people. No matter how sad or depressed one felt, no matter how tragic or disheartening the situation was, you had that special gift of reassurance, and brightening up one's face with a smile. You dried the tears and replaced them with laughter; you so often encouraged those in despair; you generously gave to those in need. You visited the sick and buried the dead. We know all this Telahun, not only because of what we saw of you in our own lives, but also because so many people say what a kind and great man you were and what a good influence you were for them. You were also so capable of sharing in people's joys - always a larger than life presence at happy social events. We can still see you dancing away at weddings or at parties, eagerly sharing the latest jokes with people, and bringing joy and conviviality to the meals you shared with others. You really brought sunshine and great expectation to every body irrespective of their age. The young and the old enjoyed your jokes and your company.

Even in the jobs you did you shone. You believed in giving your best, and all your life you worked hard with dedication and reliability. You were a meticulous and scrupulous man, very neat, always properly dressed to suit the occasion.

And, as we remember all this, we weep because you never had the opportunity, after a lifetime of hard work, to reap the harvest of rest and relaxation you so much deserved.

Yes Telahun, you were a very original man, one in a million.

We could go on endlessly about the wonderful and brilliant man, and the unique and self-sacrificing brother that you were, Telahun, but even remembering and writing the above is almost unbearable. Unbearable because you have gone away. We cannot begin to express our desolation and pain. Your death ripped something unimaginably huge out of our lives, leaving a gaping wound that will never heal. We really do not have adequate words to fully describe how much we, and our families, are suffering, because of your departure. Even as we remember, yet again the tears flow in an endless, endless stream.

So, this is how our lives are after your death. This is what it is to be broken hearted.

Who will comfort us now, Teleye? Yesterday you were here to reassure us of a better tomorrow. Now there is only emptiness. We strain to hear your voice again, we grab greedily at every memory we have of you, but memories, although precious, are only a poor shadow of the reality that once was you.

You are greatly missed by your family, by your sisters and their families, and by every one who knew you. Telahun, we are proud and privileged to have had such an incredible and remarkable brother like you. Our secrets were safe with you. You were not only a special brother, but also a substitute of our father when he passed away, and a very dear and genuine, and earnest friend. Rest in peace our dearest and precious brother. You are in our hearts and in our thoughts forever. Your extraordinary memories will burn in our hearts until the day we see you again in our Saviour's home.

Your loving sisters,
Guennet Zerihun and Almaz Zerihun.