I have one thing to say. Life is short. Embrace what you have, cause God can take it from you anytime, anywhere.

Why the solemn start? Well, last night at 10.15pm, me and my mum went to visit a gurl who is my age. I have no idea who she is, nor how she is related to me. Why so late? This girl is on her deathbed, death is facing her. She is suffering from liver cancer, a rare kind of liver cancer. By the time I reached the flat, she was practically wheezing for breath. The house was quiet. People were quiet. As I entered, and I gazed upon her, a combination of pity, fear and uncomforatability (if there is such a word) engulfed me. She iswas my age. Her eyes were half open and she was gasping for breath that seemed so hard to enter her lungs. Family members sat around her, older relatives reading surahs and doas for her safety and well-being. I have never been insuch a situation before, and really, the silence of the night could stop anything in it's path.

My mum and I entered the house, me following behind. I kept a safe distance, for I did not know any of these people. Whoever my mum recognized, i salam-ed. Then my mum approached this lady sitting near the girl and hugged her as tight as possible. I noticed streams of tears flowing down both women's faces, and my guess was that this women, was the girl's mother. My mother comforted her and started talking about her progress and the possibility. After a while, my mum asked for a tudung so that she could baca Surah Yaasin.

Time flew by, and it was almost 11.30pm. There seemed no change in the girl's activities, and my mum decided to leave. I shrugged, not knowing what to do. We left the flat in a couple of minutes. The drive home to me was painful. Thoughts about life and death crept up towards me. What have I accomplished in life? Is it for the better or for the worse? My mum noticed my silence, and explained to me this particular girl's condition.

She was diagnosed with liver cancer in February this year. She has been going for chemotherapy sessions for a few months and has been doing well enough to be sent home. The day she was sent home, she felt sick and couldn't walk, restricting her to bed. A gentle reminder that I have no idea who this girl is.

The main reason why I followed was because, I need to go thru these kinda things to learn from it. I begged my mum to let me follow visit her. I just feel that somehow, we both share something. What? I don't know.

This particular girl is my age, taking her O'levels this year. Just like me. It just so happened that, God wanted her back first, and decided now was the right time. My mum told me that everyone in the house was ready, the furniture had been moved and some ayat Qur'an was being played in the background. I slept with a heavy heart that night, despite reaching home at 12.30am the next morning.

As I woke up to prepare for school this morning, my mum told me this girl has passed away. I asked her at what time, and my mum replied, "2.30am". To me, it was an honour following my mum visit her. The fact that she passed on mere hours after I left, was unbelievable. I didn't know what to say, so the day carried on.

At school I was quiet, people asking if I was OK. I didn't realize until now that the main reason why I was so moody in school today was because of this issue. Now that it has struck me, I'll be waiting, when will my mum bring me over to this girl's house one more time to bid my final goodbye.

In loving memory of Nadiah