She’d wake up in the morning and draw open the maroon red and green curtains. “I’d always preferred blinds,” she’d think to herself, amused at how she could think of it when she’d so much more to do. Up, up to brush her teeth, hopefully comb that unruly hair into anything that didn’t look like candy floss and then to make her bed, a habit that had been ingrained into her grey matter by Daddy’s morning repetitions. To sit, look out at the mountains and start quiet time with a prayer of thanks. The usual, the routine, to thank God for life, family and friends. Sometimes she’d switch on music as she does this, but not today. Not today. Just the still silence as everyone still slumbers early in the morning.
Maybe a cup of coffee or a piece of toast while she waits for Eve to get ready before they head off to the hospital. The usual, Yes, like any other day. Probably another morning of lectures and if there’s that odd free slot in between, aha, out to town with Maryam and Lye Funn. There’s always something new to look at. A new dress, a skirt maybe? Or that top to buy for a ball that will never be. They’d talk and laugh about everything and anything. From how Sio was ‘fishing’ in lectures, to whether they’d wear red or black for the upcoming Pharmacy Ball.
On her way home, she’d note the steps that she’d taken all too often to the flat she’d resided in for 2 and half years. Usually C comes home then and they’d talk about Uni while they had lunch. “Ah...instant noodles again? Not good for you..,” She’d remember to say to C. And put two of them together, you’d get the weirdest ideas and funny faces. Looking into the freezer and deciding what to cook for dinner tonight. “It has to be fully defrosted by the time I get back at 5pm” (though that is often not the case in freezing Dunedin). There’s no skipping lectures or labs, even if tomorrow never comes.
She hopes it’s summer if that day comes. So that the sun would set later and she’d be able to take a walk to the Gardens. She could never really understand how nature had a toll on her, how she’d sit for ages, just reading a book or picking petals off a daisy sitting on ‘her’ spot on the hill.
First thing she’d do when she gets home is to call family back in Malaysia. To hear what has been going on, listen to Daddy’s projects and Mum’s ‘update’ on the kids in Singpals. Little Daniel, in his still high-pitched voice, about school and games and movies he wants them to watch together when they get home. She’d call Auntie D, friends in Australia, UK and Singapore. Calls to friends in Dunedin, just to see how life’s been treating them, and to hear their voices one more time.
She’d sit and hug piggy and listen to C’s jokes and conjured thoughts. There’s no moment like this one. P will go up to her room before she goes to bed, and she’d start with the usual “How’s your day?” He’s always been good to her. When all the world settles to sleep, she’d light her candle and pray. “You’ve ran my race with me.” Blowing out the tiny lit wick, she’s plant a kiss on LV’s and Mr Bear’s cheek, and snuggle under the duvet, closing her eyes with the blessed reassurance that she’s going home.
"Goodbye, world. Hello Heaven. I'm home."
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