Bad news on CNY eve

The time was 0843hr. I received a sms from someone, saying that another friend had passed away early this morning. He had had leukaemia and he had struggled with this illness for about 1 year plus. I got to know him from Singapore General Hospital in Aug 2004 and I was always amazed by his jest and positive outlook towards life. Or perhaps, he did not show out his sadness and true feelings to outsiders ? I do not know.

I can still recall how dejected, gloomy and pessimistic I was then. But he never failed to flash a grinny smile and nice cookies for me. That were the only few memories I had of him.

He left this world around 5 in the morning today, just 1 day before Lunar New Year. I heard that his family had arranged for his body to be cremated about 12 hours later on the same day. A bit too fast, I thought. But perhaps it wasn't good to cremate or attend funeral wakes on the first day of Chinese New Year ?

I felt sad and a tear fell from my moist eyes after hearing such terrible news.

Take care, my friend and smile, just like what you had always did to me....