Turkey loved Metin Uca with all its heart...

My heart was scorched last night...

His condition was not improving, but my brain refused to put his name side-by-side with death.

He was one of the most beautiful-hearted people in the world.

He was full of love for humanity and love for his country...

A smile never left his face.

His energy was more than enough for all his friends... He was such a positive man, a man who looked at life so beautifully, such a wonderful man...

Metin Uca... My hand cannot bring itself to write...

How did you leave us?

*

Just yesterday, I called his assistant and close friend Kübra with concern to ask about his condition.

He had been intubated at Kartal Training and Research Hospital, fighting for his life in a room closed to visitors.

Kübra said through tears, 'We are praying for him to get better.'

A lump formed in my throat.

*

'Whenever you want, my dear...' his voice was in my ears.

He would come running to my program invitations even during his busiest times...

Last night, while we were waiting for good news from him, our hearts burned...

Metin Uca, how suddenly...

*

I am very sad. I have set aside all the agendas I was going to write about today.

I am not in a state to think about anything else, burdened by the sorrow of losing a very precious friend, Metin.

It was the 90s...

As a journalist and television broadcaster just starting my career, I used to watch him.

He made a name for himself with very different stories at the Ankara bureau of Kanal D News.

In every report, there was subtle satire and very cleverly crafted political criticism.

*

Later, we watched him in morning news and night bulletins that broke ratings records.

He tried the news show format for the first time in Turkey and was very successful with his original style.

He was doing stand-up comedy with the news.

Then came Pasaparola, which also broke viewership records... With his energy that couldn't be contained on screen, his storytelling born of high intelligence, his style, and his references, he held a place in the hearts of Turkey's enlightened people.

While making highly-watched programs in mainstream media, he never gave up his intellectual identity.

He criticized the government in every setting he deemed appropriate. Metin Uca was a great patriot who resisted the counter-revolution with his mind, his heart, and his labor.

He received the reward for his intellectual struggle by being fired from mainstream media!

His standing in society and the importance of every program he hosted meeting with a large audience did not matter! He was 'crossed out,' and until the last moment of his life, he carried the heartbreak and bitterness of having what was rightfully his taken away.

He went through very difficult economic days, but he never bent or broke.

He did not give up... He wrote and performed his own shows. He penned books.

He met with his fans again through the one-man plays he wrote.

In every play, he skillfully inserted political criticisms that left his audience in stitches. He spoke of his longing for a better life, democracy, and justice for his beloved homeland.

*

He always felt the sadness of not being able to do the profession he knew best and loved most, but Metin Uca never let the smile leave his beautiful face...

He boosted the morale of those who loved him and never stopped instilling hope in those around him.

A very early, very sudden, very painful loss...

My silent tears flowed onto my chest like nails all night long.

We loved you very much, my beautiful friend... We will not be able to get used to your absence...