Humans on New York: Robert and Mickey

The Humans of New York post that most stood out to me was this 7-part story from a man named Robert. In the story, Robert recounts his deeply emotional friendship with an older man named Mickey. From the very beginning of their friendship, Mickey was a very important figure in Robert’s life, filling the very needed role of an accepting parental figure (“He became the ‘gay dad’ that I never had”) and helping Robert through his depression. Robert tells us that Mickey had recently lost his partner, Michael, to HIV, so the two found a new companionship in each other.

Robert remembers that Mickey had always dreamed of being a painter, but had never succeeded. He wanted to help him achieve those dreams, saying “I wanted that for him. Not just because his art was beautiful, but because he saved my fucking life. I wanted to give something back.” So Robert became a representative for Mickey’s painting career and with his help, it took off locally. He painted exclusively palm trees, which Robert remembers him viewing as a symbol of life. The posts include many images of Mickey’s artwork, which are what initially drew me to the story.

Eventually, Mickey (who was HIV positive) became sick and passed away. However, it is clear in the way that Robert remembers him that he still maintains a very important part in his life. Mickey gave him a place to stay when he needed one, a shoulder to cry on, and a promise that life would get better even when it seemed impossible. The story shows that having someone who truly cares about you can make all the difference in the world in the face of hardship and that the most pivotal friendships can come from unexpected places. It highlights the importance of platonic love and the idea that family doesn’t need to be related by blood. The companionship and support that Mickey gave Robert when he needed it the most will remain with him forever, even now that Mickey is gone. Robert recalls how he felt watching Mickey die, saying, “I told him not to worry. Because grief was such a small price to pay for our friendship.” This idea is what made the story so uplifting despite its sad moments. Even though Mickey passed away, the huge impact he had on Robert’s life remains. And, now that Robert has shared his story, his memory will remain with us, too.