I was going to go home tonight, just to give norjit and her husband some space, because seriously, i am literally living here. i feel i am not giving them their little space, nor am i paying or working for it.

However, before she left today, she warned me she might be late home, as she has to visit her friend’s sick parent after work. I didn’t mind that, i can leave her keys in the mail box. so i waited, read news papers, watched CSI – then a text came from her:

“he passed away. we were just minutes away from seeing him for the last time, but he passed away..”

i am lousy at consoling people, i don’t know what to say. how do you tell someone it’s ok? that he’s in a better place without sounding cliche, rude or insensitive? i waited for her to come home, and gave her a hug, for which she whispered, “thanks… treasure life and what you have ok?”

it made me sad to see her sad, it scares me when we talk about death. not too long ago, both of us were in high school, terrorising our teachers and all we had to worry about was exams, tests and our little cliques. for me, i also had the additional burden of teaching my students as well, as a private tutor. now, our worries have escalated to bills, jobs, bitchy colleagues – and deaths of those we love.

With every death, there’s life, and every life a death. I just wish i don’t have to be saying farewell.