Requiem for Davina

It was 15th May 2007. We woke up early cos we wanted to attend Davina's (my cousin-sister) funeral. It was like a dream, so unreal but yet we were really on our way to Butterworth to attend her funeral. There were many peoples by the time we arrived, many of them were Davina's colleagues. Justine (Davina's boss) and Selina were there too.

There were many familiar faces. It was Davina that brought us together. It was Davina that we talked to each other and revealed our most humane side to each other cos we were at Mount Miriam cancer hospital to be with Davina during her final days. It was Davina that made us realised how powerless we are even many of us are so powerful in our respective field of work but there were only so much we could do to save Davina. In fact, her company was willing to generate RM 120,000 for her medical expenses but yet we could not save her.

We didn't talk much to each other anymore cos the person that brought us together was no longer with us. We were there to pay our last respect and to mourn. The black van that parked outside the gate was adorned with flower garlands. The flower garland sent by my church was placed in the front of the van. I had no tears to shed, no more tears but I was still engulfed by sadness. All of us walked behind the slow moving black van. Later, her body was cremated. There were so many questions lingering on my mind. Why she was not given a second chance?

Davina, 31 years old, died of liver cancer on Mother's day, living behind a 14 months old son, a husband and all of us. May her soul rest in peace.