Final moments

'Qing, J passed away this morning,' W whispered brokenly into the phone.

W's words still reverberated in my mind, shocked with disbelief at what I was hearing. I was planning to visit her again next week, with the flowers that I wanted to get for the room. L had gone to visit her today, equipped with CDs to encourage her in her fight against the Big C.

While many may remember J as the vivacious and attractive girl who liked to talk on-stop, I remembered J as the considerate and kind girl who was encouraging and caring towards all her relatives and friends, sensitive to others' feelings and moods, putting others before herself, even until her final moments. She had strived hard for all that she had achieved, but never put on any airs, and treated everyone around her with the same sincerity and concern.

Though she was in pain during the final stage, she had spent her final moments with her GOD. She had gone willingly and at peace. But her family, who had been with her for the whole six months, was not willing to let her go.

Death. Hardly a coffee table topic. Held by all as a great taboo. But one so pertinent to rest all regrets and longings, especially to those who are still around.