Ever had a best friend make the stupidest decision of their life, but you figured, hell. He’s got it figured out. It’s his life. He’ll be fine. So you didn’t tell him?

He tells you,
“Imma climb me a big’ne, Tye. Imma make it to the top of the world!”
It’s a big rock, a mountain.
That’s all.
What’s the appeal of climbing that big rock?
”’s’gon be a beauty, Tye. a beauty, I swear!”
Then he boards his plane.
Off to India.
Archie made it, i swear it.
Archie would’ve given his life to make it to the top of that mountain.
And Archie did.

So here i sit, packing for California.
28 years of a best friend being right beside you.
He moves out to California,
and he’s gone after a year.

His momma called to tell me.

“Tye, Archie’s staying in that mountain. Archie’s gonna spend the next numerous years buried in that snow. It’s where he wants to stay.”

I knew that meant he was dead.
But he made it.
Archie made it to the top of the world.
And that’s where he’ll stay.

I’m going to California with an aching in my heart.