At 5:20pm on Thursday, the twentieth of August 2015, my grandma breathed her last and moved on from this earth. I was there to watch her take her final gasp of air. My heart was thudding incredibly fast as we all waited for her to take her next breath. There was none. Her lips stopped moving and silence rang through her own room. At least her wish was fulfilled: she passed away in her own bed.
This post is written to celebrate the life of my grandma, the person I call Mama. She was a strong person, undefeated in all of life's obstacles, coming out in triumph at the end. She was loving, kind, generous, so much so that she was friends with everybody. She gave, and gave, and gave, like the most selfless person on earth. She was thoughtful. She was goodhearted. She was all-round amazing.
Mama had a wonderful sense of humour. I remember once we were at a fancy international buffet for Mother's Day, and I wasn't sitting at her table. I was sitting with my brother. She casually walked over, and whispered to both of us with a smile, 'Make sure you eat as much of these expensive food as you can, because it's not going to fill your stomach at all,' then casually walked away. I remember one time she put on an oversized hoodie with a crazy hardcore symbol on the front, raised her hands, formed her hands into the metal sign, and asked for a photo to be taken. I remember one time during our annual Christmas party, she wore my cousin's belly dance skirt and started belly dancing in front of all of us, sending us into fits of laughter. My aunts, uncles and father all have a wacky sense of humour, and I see they all got it from their mother.
To the rest of my family: during this time we will go through much grief. We will eventually carry on with our lives, but occasionally a pang will hit us so hard, our hearts will physically hurt. But we will be strong together, and we will be there for each other. Let's continue gathering regularly and strengthen the bond we already have. And let's all remember that Mama will forever be in our hearts, and that we will forever be in hers. She loves us very much, and she still does, right there in heaven watching over us being one big, happy family.
Mama, we love you, we will miss you very very much. Thank you for every single thing you have done for this family, because without you, we would all turn out very differently. I thank God for you because you have been such a blessing in our lives. I'm sorry if I never spent as much time with you as you wanted, but know that deep down I love you very, very much.
Mama, I'm graduating college this Saturday. I appreciate how every single year you attend my primary school awards day and also my high school graduation. This will be the first time you are not there to watch me go on stage for my academic achievements. I hope that wherever you are, you will see me and I will make you proud.
Goodbye, grandma, and see you again one day.