What lies in front of you is the potential to foster a new connection. Whether or not you take that opportunity is your decision, but you shouldn't rule it out completely due to fear of loss. If we followed that logic, we would all be isolating ourselves from one another.

[ and in a world run by emotions, where apathy can be equated to destruction and rot, that is definitely not a path that steven wants to see a dear friend take. ]

Of course, there are some who prefer to live in such a way... But I don't think you're that kind of person.