Paul's seven-year struggle 
with AIDS 
clearly shows on his face.

He was 
as great a friend
as he was an artist.

The second photo was taken 
the day he helped me select 
the black & white portraits 
for this book. 

A month later, 
he died 
in my arms.

His death
transformed
my experience
of dying,
hence
my
life. 

His 
last words 
were, 
"Death is easy." 

Indeed,
he
certainly
made it seem so--
and,
even more,
that there
was
nothing
to
fear
after
death. 

Nothingness
is
not
fearful.

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