Rest In Peace

Hello saturnine blog. Today as an attempt to amplify my misery, I attended a wake service. Okay, I lied, this is not about me but I wanted to sincerely lend my support to an old flame. An old friend, a borrowed family, a person whom I will always appreciate and keep safely inside my heart.

His aunt passed away in a tragic accident. She was in Manila for a business-study trip and was run down by a cab. Instantly, a chill ran down my spine and I thought to myself, life is too short to start your day with broken pieces of yesterday. People will forget what you said, they will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel. Though I've only met her twice and vaguely remember how she looks like, I will never forget how warm and welcomed she made me feel. That was all that mattered.

I entered one of the designated halls in Xiao En, scanned the large crowd for Bubu. Once I found him, ST and I stood still and smiled expecting him to sense our presence. We were separated by a glass wall and Bubu looked out and our eyes met. A surge of delight elevates his head and his lips stretched from ear to ear. ST and I continued standing unmoved trying not to lose our cool but she raised her hand and waved anyhow. That's when I start to make out familiar faces. His mum, his granny on the wheelchair and aunt June.

"Do you have an extra white envelope?" ST asked while rummaging her bag.

"Oh, you didn't prepare yours? Strange that we are giving monetary offering when this is a Christian service." I replied.

"I didn't think an envelope would be needed as usually there would be a collection box where you just slip in the money.” ST gave up searching. Maybe she saw that I had mine in a white envelope.

"Hmm... let me go ask Bubu if he's got extras. I am sure the centre here provides them.” I walked into the room and returned.

"Bu said an envelope is not necessary. But I am gonna give mine with the envelope."

"I saw you had a lot of things written on it." ST snooped.

"Oh... erm, nothing special, just some sympathy quotes I got off the internet and then I edited them.” I replied shyly.

ST smiled.

Rest in peace aunty Jennifer. 

The angels are always near to those who are grieving, to whisper to them that their loved ones are safe in the hands of God.