The Visit
The flowers were delivered around noon. The man came to the wrong place and gave the flowers to Mrs. Lim from across the hall instead. Well, I am used to it since our door numbers are almost the same.
She had always like yellow roses. The one I ordered for today was especially fresh and the bouquet was quite big. Luckily I got a car from Andy or else I would have had to stand the glare of strangers on the street. Anyway, its more convenient to have a car for today.
I had been getting ready for this day for quite a long time. Actually, I started preparing for it about a month ago. I purposely took leave from work today just for this.
I read the letters that she had sent to me over the years and realized that I had missed her a lot. The time we spent talking under the sun, about anything and the fun we had. Sometimes, we would just sit around doing nothing. She always had a special place in my heart.
I wore that sky blue shirt that we had bought together one Christmas. Its nothing special, its not even branded but its the most comfortable shirt that I had. She was wearing that same shirt the last time we met.
Finally, after checking that everything was in order, I got out of the house. Indeed the bouquet of roses was big. Thanks for the car again, Andy. As I got on the way, I turned what I wanted to say over and over in my mind. It seemed like a long time since I last spoke to her and I miss her voice so much.
Should I tell her about my life now or should I talk about the old times? Well, I guess its all up to me when I see her again.
After weaving through the traffic, I finally reach the place. I walked in with the roses but nobody was there. After all, it is a weekday, in the middle of the day. Not that many people were here anyway.
I could see her the moment I turned the corner. She was there and she was always there. No, make that she had never left the place since then.
As I gave the roses to her, I almost wanted to cry. I missed her so much and it breaks my heart to see her but not actually seeing her there.
Guess I was at a lost of words. I opened my mouth but none of what I had wanted to say came out. Instead, I just stood with my mouth agape.
“Angie, its been a long time since I came and see you. How are you? Well, I am … fine. Helen just gave birth to a girl last week. Sorry I couldn’t bring them along because they are still too weak. I know how much you wanted to see them; maybe I will bring them when they get better. I know you always wanted a girl. I hope you don’t mind that I name my daughter after you.”
“I was just thinking about the time we had spent together. Funny because I always think about that everytime I want to see you. Guess its because its one of my happiest moment in my life. After all, we did quite a lot of things together, some quite stupid…. Remember the time we bought 3 packs of condoms? We really had fun filling it with water and throw it off the bridges. I still remember the shocking stares we got from the cashier.”
“I really miss you. I had told you before but I just want to tell you again. You will always be in that special place in my heart. Maybe we can be together in our next life. Maybe we were not fated to be together in this life. But I am glad that we had spent time together.”
“I’ve got to go now. I still have to pick Helen and little Angie up at the hospital. I promise to bring them along next time. I love you.”
Its funny, everytime as I was leaving the cemetery, a gentle wind would start to blow in my face. The trees around would gently shake their leaves. Its like Angie waving goodbye to me.
Wrote this a while back..
sop sop sop my eyes are blurry now. someone pls pass me some tissue…
heh. i wont allow my husband to name our daughter after his ex!
poor guy.
haha.. why not?
i’m a jealous wife
Wow… so sad… like Cantonese drama serial…
I hope next time you put a “SAD STORY - PMSSING WOMEN DON’T READ” warning at the top. *wipes tears away*
where have i read this before?
You wrote this a long time ago right?
is this real ??
Miche: Jealous wife no good.. heh..
La Idler: It has no relation to any story I read..
FF: sorry lah.. *pass box of tissue*
Caleb: Yeah, very long ago.. in Dec 1997 I think. Dug it out somewhere to keep it here. At least I want to keep an electronic copy.
teadog: err.. what do you think?
Yeah man! If you like, come for a holiday here & I might help you find a woman of your choice
KC: haa.. i looking forward to going there for a holiday..
i read this before as well
I read this before as well when you showed it to me back in year 2001
yeah, I think so..
Well until the point where the ‘conversation’ starts I thoght this was a real incident that you now blog about. Kinda relieved it isn’t. Sad story tho.
Reminds me of those tragic Colin Cheong books I used to read in Sec school
Aneki: If its really, it would be really tragic
aMuse: I never heard of Colin Cheong before though..
aMuse, what other titles Colin Cheong has? I read one (17) while in uni and cried leh…
Colin Cheong is this Singaporean writer. Writes angsty-bittersweet ending kinda stories. Not sure what new books he has. I’ve read The stolen Child, Poets, Priests and Prostitutes, and Life Cycle of the Homo Sapien (Male). Didn read 17. tho. Ya sometimes read the stories can cried wan … v. sad …
Oh.. you should read Seventeen. Very sad gah…
Oh..u should read Seventeen. Very sad gah.
Send me an email and I might arrange for a tour. Blackpool is a nice place to visit what do you say.
uh.anyone knows..where do i get colin cheong biography??
anyway,recently i read abt ‘The Man in the Cupboard’ by Colin Cheong.Quite a nice one.