It has been 6 long years. 6 years ago on this very day, my dear friend, you left us so suddenly without a word. They said time heals, but why when I sighted your name in the list of perished here just now, my heart still aches ? And why whenever I caught sight of a long-hair slender figure and thought it was you and then remembered it couldn't be you, my heart still sinks? And why as I am typing this and thinking of the past, of the time we'd spent together, tears still rush to my eyes?

YES it still hurts. Still hurts a lot.

We never had a chance to go beyond the 5 years of our acquaintance, nor a chance to deepen our friendship, nor a chance to say goodbye. I so regretted that I'd drifted from you all after gotten married. But it's a regret too painful to bear, for I'll never have a chance to make up for it.

In my heart, dear friend, you are still where you are.

Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep
- by Anonymous -
Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

(In memory of a dear friend who was on board on SilkAir MI185, which crashed on 19 Dec 1997)

A poetry penned by KA "Seen", photographs courtesy of Lianhe Zaobao.