The Broken Chess Piece

God was playing a chess-like game - called "Heal or Kill" - with his best friend, Death. This was their favourite past time - spending their whole day drinking, joking, and of course - playing Heal or Kill.

It was God's turn. He set a chess piece on the board, looking at it stand proudly on the board. Full of stability.

Then it was Death's turn. Without remorse, Death flicked a chess piece off the board with his finger.

As the chess piece went flying and broke into pieces on the floor, Death sniggered - prompting God to continue the game.

But God just looked silently at the broken chess piece, and for the first time, God shed some tears.

*****

Another life was taken away from my life - another life of a good person that was - as people use to say, "taken too soon". It was a complete deja vu as I woke up at 6am this morning to the sounds of Mom knocking frantically on my bedroom door.

"大姨姨 had just passed away, I'm going to the hospital now" - Mom's eyes were bloodshot, and she looked frantic, even lost, when she told me that.

...

And so, Mom drove to the hospital, while I had no choice but to sit for the Biology papers I have in school.

With disturbed emotions.

I imagine faceless people asking me the question, "Are you close to your aunt?", but I just couldn't answer, I couldn't. The only memories of my aunt was that she was a kick-ass good cook, a widowed mother, and she has a loud voice. Seriously loud.

Who cares? I still appreciate her as my aunt. My mother's sister.

A few days ago, she had been diagnosed with Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a disease that, well, deteriorates the organs in one's body - especially vital organs. Doctors incorrectly suspected that my aunt has a heart problem at first, which perfectly makes sense now.

Quote: Wikipedia - Systemic lupus erythematosus

SLE is one of several diseases known as "the great imitators" because it often mimics or is mistaken for other illnesses. SLE is a classical item in differential diagnosis, because SLE symptoms vary widely and come and go unpredictably. Diagnosis can thus be elusive, with some people suffering unexplained symptoms of untreated SLE for years.

Common initial and chronic complaints include fever, malaise, joint pains, myalgias, fatigue, and temporary loss of cognitive abilities. Because they are so often seen with other diseases, these signs and symptoms are not part of the diagnostic criteria for SLE. When occurring in conjunction with other signs and symptoms, however, they are considered suggestive.

And since that, she has been warded, with Mom bringing her home-cooked porridge, mee hoon, and fruits everyday.

Just yesterday, Mom was telling us that aunt's health is already improving, that she's eating normally already.

Well, the winds of fate.. Changed direction today, I guess.

*****

I pondered silently while I looked at my Biology test paper, not taking in a word of it.

First my grandma, then my uncle, then now my aunt? Death must be having the time of his life, flicking chess pieces off the board gleefully - I mused to myself.

Three deaths, three loved ones who passed away - and their way of death was almost the same - "Her condition is improving already", and they're gone the next day. Why though? Perhaps it's just a momentary relief, to allow them to go.. in peace?

Questions, frightening statements popped up in my head - One by one, chess pieces get flicked off the board, and it might not be long till someone really close..

Sigh.

Someone once told me - "As years pass, you - as a teen - are growing up to the best part of your life, while adults though, take a step closer to the end of the road."

The end of the road.

Ja. Yeah.

I realise that there was a teardrop on my Biology paper, blotching some of the ink.

.. God's tears, or mine? ..



Rest in peace, aunt.

Quote (Credits go to Robin33)

我见他人死，When I see someone dying,
我心热如火，My heart is filled with fire,
不是热他人，Not to warm any others,
看看轮到我。But to look at my own destiny.

Staying strong, holding on,
- Ryo.