I was sitting here watching TV with the latest hit show on the planet. Suddenly I remembered a friend who had passed. She was my college classmate, passed away on July 2006, only 24 years old. I outlived her by 5 years now.
I remember hearing the news for the first time, in the early morning hours, and I have to read the text 3 times before letting it sink in. I called about 4 people to confirm what had happened. My friend, died.
She was not my close friend. So I didn’t feel so crushed when she passed (please don’t judge me, it’s just how I feel). But I did feel sad for her. She still had so many things to do. She still hadn’t finished her Final Paper for graduation. She never knew how it feels sitting in that hot Balairung, listening to Gadeamus Igitur by the freshmen, taking cheesy picture in front of cheesy backdrop. She never knew Britney shaved her bald, or there is a show called Glee that is addictive. She never knew Facebook or Twitter, or caught on the smartphone crazed. She never knew there is this ridiculous phenomenon in Indonesia called Syahrini, who uttered out stupid catchy phrases. The bimbo that everyone loves to hate. She never knew that Irfan Bachdim joined the Indonesian National Team and became their cover boy.
But most importantly, she never got to see her son grow up. She never got to teach her son to read, or to tie his shoes. She never got to go to her son first day of school.
There are so many things they missed when they passed young. And sometimes I found myself asking, why them not me. Why do I have the chance to outlive these people. Because if I go back, and see their lives, they had lived it…and still had more too offer.
Well… I guess it’s time for me, once again to count my blessings, and live my life to the fullest.
Dear Yulan, you are missed, but I know they’re taking care of you, you had such a pure soul.
