Shoon Naing for Medium

“You were kind, you were light, always carrying joy like a gentle breeze.”
These are the words that echo when I think of you, my brother.
In the hardest of times, you were a beacon
A heart full of care, a soul full of laughter.
We met when life was uncertain, yet you became a steady friend,
Trustworthy, unshaken, never speaking ill of anyone.
You had no room for complaints, only humor,
Quick to turn any moment, any insult, any trouble,
Into something that made us all laugh.
That’s the part of you I’ll carry with me always.

But it wasn’t just your kindness that stood out.
You had a gift — your eye for stories, for truth.
Through your lens, the world saw Myanmar,
Its beauty, its pain, its resilience.
You captured moments that spoke louder than words,
Pictures that told the stories of those who could not speak.
You had a talent for seeing the unseen,
And through your photographs, your legacy will live on.

You were there for me in ways words can’t describe.
When I was alone , you were my company,
My good brother, the friend I need.
I remember the jokes, the endless laughter,
And the day you passed your immigration language test —
Not with words from a Thai textbook,
But by naming the bottles of alcohol we shared.
Regency — our inside joke, our bond.

I’m sorry I didn’t reach out more.
I’m sorry I didn’t care for you as you did for me.
You were my friend, my brother,
And I can only imagine the fear you felt in your last moments.
But you were never alone,
We came as soon as we could,
To say goodbye, to send you off to the skies you always dreamed of.
I hope now you’ve escaped the weight of this world,
Rising to the clouds,
Where you can rest in peace, free from all the sorrow.