Mom's old friend

Mom came into my room today, telling me how her long-time friend Auntie Lily can't take it anymore.

Auntie Lily was my mom's room mate back in her college days at the then Nanyang University student hostels. She is perhaps one or two years younger or older than my mom. After losing touch for many years, Mom heard about Lily again through another ex-classmate, and it was because Lily was very ill from her cancer treatment. News spread fast among her old alumni clique people. And that was when Papa was diagnosed the same cancer for the first time. It's been close to three decades since Mom last saw Lily.

Auntie Lily had been fighting NPC for years, and after her fifth relapse, everyday seems like living hell to her. She opens her eyes weakly every morning and simply lies on her bed motionless, not able to perceive what's going on around her anymore. Her doc has ceased giving her further medication for fear her life would be consumed faster than if let alone. Mom says her days are numbered. A true fighter Lily has been. The last time Mom visited her a year ago or so, she told Mom to relay a message to Papa - that cancer patients like them are brave and fighters like them shall never give up. I believe Lily's younger daughter has finished her A levels. Years back when she was struggling with her relapse, Lily told herself never to give up on her life because she wants to see her youngest daughter make it to university. And with that thought she persisted and fought on til today. Not a day goes by when she gave up on herself.

Mom got wind that Lily has become much sicker than before and was determined to go visit her again before she might never getta see Lily again. Mom told me to avoid talking to Papa about Lily for fear he might get depressed over his own relapse which happened for the first time this year. I do not know how Mom is feeling right now, probably sad and probably worried for Dad's future health. And knowing an old friend's about to be lost to the jaws of death simply doubles that misery.

I believe Auntie Lily is still fighting hard even though she has lost her vision, her sense of hearing and is too weak to reach out for her daughters. But i am sure at anyone time, as long as she is conscious, she knows her girls are right beside her giving her all the comfort and assurance she needs. A college beauty she once was, as Mom describes, Lily will always be as beautiful as her vain old trendy self some thirty five years ago. Even til the very end. At least that's how her ex-room mate will forever remember her to be.

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