old friends

She's gone.

It seems almost surreal. As I'm writing this, my mind's still not completely convinced. I wrote about a dear friend a few weeks ago. I had the chance to visit her last Saturday and she seemed fine. We laughed a little and although she couldn't really say much, I could see in her eyes that she was glad to be surrounded by her old friends.

The sounds of the city sifting through trees settle like dust on the shoulders of the old friends.

I called up a friend of ours this morning to get updates about her condition. It seems she had gotten worse over the week. Given that this was just minutes after I woke up, I was unable to process all that I was hearing. They moved her to the ICU. She lost consciousness. She was slipping away.

Old friends. Memory brushes the same years. Silently sharing the same fear.

Minutes later, I learned she was gone. Just 22, she had her whole life ahead of her until suddenly, it wasn't. She was a loving daughter, a gifted educator, and a really good friend. Above all, I cherish my memories of her. Eating deep fried bananas at Lacson. Going on mini-trips to Quiapo. Conversations about anything and everything. She had such a unique sense of humor and a very active imagination. I miss her.

I couldn't help but remember our last conversation. Shortly after I found out she wasn't well, I called her and we tried to catch up. I promised her I'd see her by Christmas and she offered to give us a tour of her city when she gets better. It's sad that we'll never get to do that now.

Time it was, and what a time it was, it was a time of innocence. A time of confidences...

When you're young, it feels like you have all the time in the world. We sometimes forget how fragile life truly is. I take comfort in the fact that she is in a better place- away from crooked hospital beds and the circus of wires, beeps and tubes. She has been released of her pain. I just feel really bad. She was so young.

Long ago it must be. I have a photograph. Preserve your memories. They're all that's left you.

Marie Antoinette Yco
1986 - 2008

To Antoinette, we will never forget you. Rest well, old friend. You will forever be missed.


2 comments

  1. My deepest condolences dear. My heart goes out to you. *hugs and kisses*

    ReplyDelete

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