A Missing Piece
When I was younger, I had this nice auntie as my neighbour.
She lived right above my apartment, and as a small kid she would always give me sweets, or wave and smile. Usually I saw her when I was leaving for primary school in the morning. I had to walk upstairs cause the lift was there. She'd be outside, holding her jossticks towards the sky, and worshipping some deity.
And whenever she saw me, she'll turn and smile. And stop for awhile, and ask me how's school, family, homework, and all the other things that are in relation with a primary school child. And of course being a child, I'd tell her everything.
She was the only other adult person other than my parents that I converse to everyday.
She had a husband, but we hardly talked - because I hardly saw him. I didn't know how they got their income, but I supposed their children gave them an allowance. Because I never saw the auntie step out of her house. Maybe the uncle worked, I don't know. I never thought of asking them that as a kid.
I remember once during Christmas, she gave me a box of car toys. It was amazing. I hadn't gotten anything more cool than a box of miniature cars. Anyway I was 10 then, so it was really awesome to get cars. CARS! I took it home, got a scolding, and the box was returned to the neighbour. Of course I did feel sad, but now, it's a different kind of sadness - it's more of regret. That I wasn't able to keep it in remembrance of her.
Why?
Because slowly when I grew up, I saw less and less of her. Maybe because I wasn't as intuitive to meet her every morning. And I would either be really early or really late for school. But when I do see her, we'd still talk about school. School's what all aunties would ask first right? It's sort of an ice breaker topic.
Anyway, when I reached sec 3 -4. I've never seen her again. I was puzzled, but I always thought she was somewhere at home, and it's just that I didn't have an opportunity to see her. 2 years past like that. But I still do regularly see the uncle. He's old now, he's needs a support as he walks. I realised that his right leg's kneecap is cocked and it arched towards his left leg. Sometimes I'd help him carry his stuff. He collected drink cans to sell, so my mum would pack all the drink cans we use up, and give it to him. And it was only once while I was at a coffeeshop at Bdemeer below my friend's house, did I realise he was working as a cleaner there. With his bad leg, and struggling to sweep and clean.
A few months back, one time during lunch, I asked my mom where the auntie went, and why I never saw her anymore.
My mum told me she had a stroke. And she was full body paralysed. Her children brought her back to stay with them, so to look after them. That shocked me of course. I wished I had thank the auntie for her Christmas present seven years ago, I wished I had spent more time to talk to her, you know, just to really befriend her.. and take time to be friends with her. Instead of staying as acquaintances.
Now, I guess the uncle lost his job. Cause I see him standing outside Potong Pasir NEL Station, begging for money. And he'd stand there for hours, with his bad leg, trying to get people to donate. My mum says he uses the money to eat and gamble, trying his luck at 4D, hoping he strikes rich before the end.
It's sad to see how a plesant life can breakdown, and humans can fall into a rut they can't climb out of. How we waste our life away when we think we're worthless. How situations can turn so drastic. How everything comes to an end.
How sometimes you take for granted the simple things.
To realise that when it's gone, it's like a jigsaw puzzle missing in a complete picture.