The story of death

What is death?The ‘full stop’? The end? To kick the bucket? To take the plunge of no return? To cease living?

This is a very intriguing topic isn’t it? Since the dawn of time, people have sought to look for the elixir of life, the vial of youth or the fountain of longevity. It seems that so many of us fear death. We want everlasting life. We want to be an immortal.

This article was sparked by a very short portion of Mr. Fishtail’s article (http://julyfishtail.blogspot.com/2005/11/lecture-theatre.html) about the LTA. In the article, Mr. Fishtail went on a nostalgic path of retracing his time lecturing at a private college. He rekindled the days where people like myself sat in his classrooms eager to learn and absorb every detail of knowledge he was about to bestow on us.

However, he also brought up a very sad topic about the demise of a student. Not so long ago, I remember being told by Weng Tchung that a gal had passed away at my college after we left for Brookes. Apparently she died of dengue fever. Some said she died because of a blood infection of some sort. Whatever the cause of her death was, the point is Eunice Lee (the gal who succumbed to the illness) will not grace the lecture rooms of Mr. Fishtail anymore, or for that matter, will not walk the walls of life either.

I went on a soul searching journey through her blog and through her photo albums (http://mildpiquant.blogspot.com/2005/10/rest-in-peace-unice-lee.html).At first, I thought it would be a brief trip (since I was only taking a break out of my Commercial Law revision). However, through her blog, I went through the pages of LIFE as Eunice did before her untimely demise.

No parent should have to bury their child. I’m greatly sympathetic with Eunice’s family for having to suffer this sad episode. ( Eunice's story appeared in the Star Newspapers : http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/11/6/nation/12435289&sec=nation).

But, before going entirely distracted by sadness, I have to say her blog brought me closer to who Eunice Lee was as a person in flesh and blood. The earlier posts were full of young enthusiasm. It highlighted her zest for life.Alas, her last post was about someone ‘backstabbing’ her. It is sad that her last days were blighted with such problems. Furthermore, I noticed that on her sidebar was a link to another lady who was also dying because of some tumor (this lady has subsequently died as well). Perhaps, even at a young tender age of 18, Eunice knew the perspective of death, perhaps from this dying lady.

I do not know how many of us believe death within the confines of the definition stated above. I certainly don’t. In my opinion, death is just a continuing of LIFE. The irony is…LIFE never ceased for Eunice nor will it cease for any of us.

She continues to live through the small portion of Mr. Fishtail’s blog and probably a big part of his memory, the blogs of her friends and the memories they carry of her, her blog and photo albums; and perhaps most importantly through her family.

I hoped she believed in the notion of life and death as I do before she was taken. Her infectious smile showed she was a gal of much energy and confidence. Her story showed that she was an epitome of good and love and innocence. (http://www.soundclick.com/bands/Lyrics.cfm?BandID=141287&songid=2994933)

There is no doubt that she is in a better place now. There is no doubt her family is in pain and I can only hope time will heal the sorrow. And there is no doubt she continues to live in each small fragments of all that she continues to touch. I did not know Eunice, but, I hope this short post will do justice to her legacy she achieved in her short life. RIP.

Appendix:

1. Mr. Fishtail, a post on Martyr’s Memorial will be coming up next!!!

2. Sorry baby, coz I know your superstitious. Don’t worry won’t be writing about this topic anymore.