Hi Walid,

First, I’d like to thank you very much for reading and for your thoughtful comment which touched me deeply… I know these are just words, but I am truly sorry you found yourself contemplating death due to health complications at such a young age.

My heart goes to you… I’ve lost a child when she was only three years younger. In almost five years that had passed since, I’ve walked or stumbled across many paths, including the death one. Like you, I’ve learned a lot. Death is a stern teacher.

I have outlined some of my findings in ‘Suicide.’

My overall conclusion is that, while death is a natural part of life, how and when we die depends, by far and large, on our individual circumstances, including our genetic predisposition, upbringing, culture, tradition, state of our mental and physical health, and number of other factors unique to each person.

There is a big difference between a person such as Jan in ‘Pink Moon,’ and someone (of any age) who chose to perish (to borrow your vocabulary) to escape unbearable circumstances.

Above all, there is nothing more tragic than death of those who ‘died for wishing to live,’ those that asked for help that never came. That, in my view, is a tragedy.

Thank you once again and

Best Wishes,

D