All people in our life are meant to go at some point. Even if it is a parent that has passed away too soon and you can't stop crying your heart out for years, or a childhood brother/sister starting his/her own life you are not a part of, or a thought to be best friend that isn't calling/writing no more, we all feel their leaving as a fading of stars on our night sky. And there is nothing more scaring as a black night.
I believe they cross our life paths because they have something important to teach us. Starting from small, trivial things up to what happiness is, we all begin to look at life from a new perspective, which makes them essential to our being.
And this is what makes them precious, they leave at the right moment. I'm not saying to let it go, because it's going to hurt when it heals too. What I try to tell you is Live in the moments. Say what you feel now, because tomorrow you may not get the chance.
Dedicated to all who have chosen another path in life or are no longer among us.