You are fortunate. I had a similar encounter a number of months ago. The wound has yet to fully heal, but I have made do with it.

[ both figuratively and literally, so to speak. as to his other statement... ]

We are nearly the same age then. Before the Storm arrived, I recently had my thirty-sixth nameday. [ it was not pleasant. ]

There was a man I also knew for some seventeen years. He served me faithfully and truly, always speaking the truth, even when others might flatter me.

[ a pause. ]

He is dead, now.

[ ...did he just make it awkward again? ]