My best friend that gave me the courage to live my life

This is partially a story of how I came out, but more about a friend that did a very brave thing for me when we were in high school. We are both 40 now and had known each other for 30 years. He passed unexpectedly last week.Josh and I were thick as thieves from the day we met. We did everything together. But I had a little secret that nobody knew, and back then where we lived it was best for me if I kept it that way. So senior prom is coming up for us and we are talking about planning our dates one night sharing a bottle of shit wine we stole from a gas station. And then it happened. I told him the truth.He laughed and said "I know, you fucking dumbass." A couple days later we are at school in the cafeteria and he waits until all our friends are there with us and he announced that we are going to prom as a couple. I wanted to murder him. I didn't know at the time but he had told his girlfriend about our conversation and somehow they arrived at the conclusion that he was going to take me as his date because she didn't want to go anyway.And we went together as a couple. Josh was always so confident and strong. He never gave a fuck what anybody thought. And believe me, he caught a bunch of crap over that, but he didn't care.So to my departed friend Josh: I love you dearly and I couldn't have made the life I have without you. I'm in no particular rush, but I can't wait to see you again. Rest in peace.