3rd Sept 2023. 1 min read
By Rosalind Ho using canva.com
Death took away my friend on 29th August 2023.
I remembered that afternoon vividly. The door to the flat was unlocked.
With a creak, I pushed it open and called out to my friend.
I had received news from a former classmate that she wanted to see me—-which was puzzling as I have never really made friends in school, being a loner.
I went immediately.
My friend called out for me to enter and there seated inside in the living room at the table, she was masked.
She greeted me immediately with joy!
I was very touched that she wanted me to come to visit her.
Struck by terminal cancer, she had been back home for a scheduled radiotherapy.
She had wanted to meet some friends to catch up on our lives thus far.
‘You are looking good!’ she exclaimed. I told her to unmask herself and said to her ‘ you are looking good too!’ That radiant smile was still there after 35 years when we last met.
We chatted and I felt that our stories that spanned over decades needed to be condensed in that hour and a half so as not to tire her.
In short, she had worked hard and did well in her host country, Malaysia after her marriage.
She had raised three successful children with luminous careers including her own but separated from her spouse who also has an eminent career.
We have so much to thank for despite some setbacks in our lives. At least she received three precious sperms never mind the lacklustre and loveless marriage, I joked. We laughed at the thought.
Looking at the collections of old pictures stored on the laptop evoked fond memories.
What a vivacious, bubbly lady she was as a student and when we met again. That infectious smile never left her as we talked.
She was well liked in class, crowned M/s photogenic, industrious, charming and she really enjoyed her time in school.
Nevertheless, it was fun and hilarious reminiscing old times and she looked cheerful and attractive in all the pictures while I was spotted looking sullen in the pictures. It triggered laughter again because we realized how things could change, me, now being more cheerful and chatty and she was evermore lovely.
My friend was forever upbeat. She was hopeful and faithful to God and always grateful. She told me that I made her very happy that day and I was glad too.
We ended with a prayer for her well-being, entrusting God to see to her recovery.
Meeting her has inspired me to be courageous in times of adversity.
She handled her condition with courage, humour and dignity. Three days later, she departed. Death might have robbed us of a good friend but not her legacy which was the message to live life joyfully and to the best of one’s ability regardless of its circumstances.