I firmly believe that we learn some of life’s most important lessons from our friends. That’s certainly the case with the incomparable @_AnnaisM, who I met 10 years ago next month at our grad school orientation.

She’s one of the few who have taught me what it really means to be there for someone at a time of need.

I’m far from a perfect person, and inspired by her — especially when she was super there for me two years ago when I needed it — I’ve worked hard on getting better.

What’s been especially painful is being stuck at home the past several weeks, beginning when her father, Cesar, fell ill, then fought an unbelievably brave battle against COVID-19 in a Bronx ICU for 16 days. He died last Wednesday afternoon at age 89.

What I’d love to do is be there for her, simply just giving her a shoulder to cry on. But I can’t for now — and it’s maddening how this virus has upended every single aspect of life.

The least I could do was honor his life and legacy in today’s New York Post — not just for Annais and her family, but also for every reader who should know about him.

Beginning as a toddler he helped support his single mother, and kept his family as his responsibility up until his death. In his native Dominican Republic, his countrymen were also his family, and that’s why he fought in its Civil War of 1965 for what was right.

But that came with drawbacks. Political allegiances led to attempts on his life, which made him flee to New York several years later. He worked hard here and that allowed his family to thrive.

With his leadership, I’m not surprised that Annais inspires me to be my best self. After all, she’ll always have his spirit in her.