Dear Onew,

I couldn't sleep last night. Who knows what came over me? Maybe our beloved angel among the stars understands. Maybe to some degree, I find comfort in that. At the moment, however, all consolation pales in comparison to the comfort I found in your album "Voice" last night.

While my thoughts ran in senseless circles, your voice— which I have come to trust above most others— flooded through my headphones. Somehow— and I don't know how you did it— you expressed my confused emotions when I couldn't even breathe through the foggy chaos.

And today, when the sun rose and the storm clouds blew away, I awoke with the sincere desire to thank you and apologize for taking so long to return to SHINee after the unspeakable happened. Bur the thing is, even though we're bonded as artist and audience, I don't actually know you, so I can't call you or text you or send you a sealed letter to lift your spirits while you serve in South Korea's military.

Nonetheless, a friend and I believe that when someone feels this much, It can be felt in any corner of the universe, regardless of the distance. That's the dimension of love I've learned from K-pop— and from SHINee especially.

If ever you could hear my voice the way I can hear yours, if I could convince you of my sincerity, I would be sure to thank you for your music. More than that, though, I would thank you for your gentle leadership. I would thank you for loving so deeply and expressing that love so delicately. I would thank you for guiding me with your tears and silly smiles alike.

I would promise to love you forever; I would promise to remember the good days with you— the ones Jonghyun shared; and I would promise to stand by you in the future.

P. S., I would tell you that the memories you've given me with your group are truly a gift because they allow me to carry precious people with me forever, even into the darkness.

• An Eternal Shawol